Gideon – Part 2 – The Rock
Reading Time: 8 Minutes
The Rock
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! 2 Samuel 22:47 NIV
The whole story of Gideon fascinates me! When we look at the pattern of Gideon’s early walk with the Lord from a spiritual perspective it is so similar to ours. Gideon had to grow in faith! Part 1 – They Cried Out shows how the Lord comes to us in our desperation and offers salvation. We learn to trust the Lord through His Words and through personal relationship with Him. In this post, Gideon encounters the Lord at “the rock” on his family property.
To get the most from this post read Judges 6:17-24.
Gideon’s Offering on the Rock
As Gideon rushed away to prepare an offering, he humbly asked the angel of the Lord, or “heavenly messenger,” to wait for him under the oak tree on his father’s property. Gideon returned with a prepared goat, unleavened bread and broth as an offering to the Lord.
God’s angel said to him, “Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth.” Gideon did as instructed. The angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The angel of the Lord then disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no! Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face-to-face!” The Lord said to him, “You are safe! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die!” Judges 6:20-23 NET
I believe “the Lord” who spoke with Gideon in this story was Jesus, the Son of God. This would have been over 1000 years before Jesus came to earth to be born of Mary. Just as Jesus appeared to many people after His resurrection in His glorified body, Jesus could have appeared to Gideon. Some believe that “the angel of the Lord” was also Jesus because it seems that Gideon was speaking to one person.
The Symbolic Offering
Gideon didn’t realize it but his offering was filled with symbolism pointing to Jesus. I believe the Lord was very pleased! Leviticus 16:15-22 Jesus is the spotless Lamb who gave His life for the sin of the world. Psalm 103:12 Christ’s body, the unleavened bread, was broken for us and His blood poured out for our redemption.
In this story, I see Gideon offering his whole heart by faith on this altar. The fire that flared mightily from the rock terrified Gideon, but confirmed that he had met God face to face! At that moment, Gideon thought he was going to die! But the Lord Himself gave him peace. Gideon experienced the power and love of the presence of the Lord for the first time in his life!
Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. Judges 6:24a NASB
The Rock– The Living Stone
The great rock on Gideon’s family farm was situated near a big tree. That location must have been a landmark of symbolism for generations in that family. The Bible is full of symbolism, and “the Rock” is one of them. I will only mention a few scriptures but there are plenty more.
Jesus is the Rock– the Living Stone! When we place our lives as an offering on the Rock as living sacrifices, a supernatural transformation takes place. Our sins are forgiven and we become like living stones through the power of the Holy Spirit. We become “like Jesus” because we become “one” with Him.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:4-6 NIV
Gideon was ashamed that his tribe was so small. He felt insignificant. But the Lord Himself chose Gideon! As long as Gideon trusted the Lord he would not be put to shame! In the same way, the Lord invites us into freedom. We no longer live in a slimy pit of fear and condemnation but have been set free. Jesus is the Living Stone, the Rock, and we become part of Him! We are fully alive in Christ!
The Rock That Provides
The Rock saved the Israelites by providing water for them in the desert. Water poured out from the rock miraculously. But we know it wasn’t a physical rock that provided the life-giving water. It was Jesus, the Lord. He is our Rock! Numbers 20:11 That same Rock, Jesus Christ, saves us with His Living Water today. John 4:14
The Rock That Hides Us
The Rock provides protection for the Day of Judgment. Moses took shelter in the cleft of the Rock when God’s glory passed by— otherwise he would have died from the intense power of God’s glory. Exodus 33:21-23 As believers in Christ, we hide in the Rock, Christ Jesus. The grace we have in Christ saves us from the judgment of sin and allows us to experience all the glories of God’s presence. Colossians 3:1-8
Fire From The Rock
Gideon placed his offering on the rock, and when “the angel of the Lord” touched it with his staff, fire came out of the rock consuming the offering. That moment changed the direction of Gideon’s life. Our lives must be laid down upon “the Rock” as an offering. When we submit to God, His Holy fire consumes our sin so that He can live in and through us!
Jesus is the Rock who provides our living water and the Rock in which we take shelter. But He is also a consuming fire! If we truly are one with Jesus, our King, we will surrender every part of our hearts to Him. Then we can be a pleasing service and acceptable worship in His Kingdom!
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 AMP
All In
Gideon knew his decision to follow the Lord would have to be 100%. Hiding in bondage and slavery to the enemy was not the answer, but he also knew that he had no strength in himself to conquer Israel’s oppressors. After Gideon encountered the supernatural power, goodness and glory of God he was in awe of the Lord!. Now he wanted to know and follow God even though he knew it would cost him everything!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it. Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give to regain your life. For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds. Matthew 16:24-27 GNT
Transformational Discipleship
Gideon’s encounter with Jesus, the Rock, shook him to the core! His fears fell to the side and his faith in the living God emerged. No longer did he believe that the Lord had abandoned him. 1 John 1:9 The belief that he and his clan were insignificant began to fade. Gideon was now a disciple. His heart and mind were being transformed by the Lord. Gideon was starting to believe the truth. He was a mighty warrior and and Israel would drive the Midianites out of the land!
As we we engage with Jesus, the Rock, He transforms us! Jesus is the Rock that provides living water and our hiding place on the Day of Judgment. His fire refines us like silver and gold, taking away our doubts and making us useful for His glory!
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
What happened next was proof of Gideon’s newly found faith! Check out Part 3 of Gideon’s story: Gideon – Part 3 – Tearing Down Idols
To find out more about the salvation Jesus has provided for you, please visit Meet Jesus on the homepage. God bless you!
