Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his handThe "angel of the LORD" is often understood as a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The staff is a symbol of authority and divine power, reminiscent of Moses' staff used to perform miracles in Egypt ( Exodus 4:2-4). The act of extending the staff signifies the initiation of a divine act, emphasizing God's direct intervention in human affairs. and touched the meat and the unleavened bread.
The offering of meat and unleavened bread reflects the sacrificial practices of the time, similar to the peace offerings described in Leviticus 7:11-15. Unleavened bread is significant in Israelite tradition, symbolizing purity and the haste of the Exodus (Exodus 12:39). The touching of the offering by the angel signifies divine acceptance and sanctification of Gideon's sacrifice. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread.
Fire is a frequent biblical symbol of God's presence and purification (Exodus 3:2, 1 Kings 18:38). The spontaneous combustion of the offering indicates divine approval and mirrors other instances where God accepts sacrifices by fire, such as with Elijah on Mount Carmel. The rock, often a symbol of strength and stability, serves as the altar, highlighting God's ability to sanctify the ordinary for His purposes. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
The sudden disappearance of the angel underscores the supernatural nature of the encounter. It parallels other biblical instances where divine messengers depart after delivering their message (Judges 13:20-21). This vanishing act leaves Gideon with a profound sense of awe and fear, reinforcing the reality of the divine encounter and the call to trust in God's presence and power, even when not visibly apparent. Persons / Places / Events 1. GideonA judge of Israel, chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. He is initially doubtful and seeks confirmation of God's will. 2. Angel of the LORDA divine messenger who appears to Gideon, often understood in conservative Christian theology as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, given the divine attributes and authority displayed. 3. OphrahThe location where Gideon encounters the Angel of the LORD. It is significant as the place of Gideon's calling and commissioning. 4. MidianitesThe oppressors of Israel during this period, whose dominance led the Israelites to cry out to God for deliverance. 5. The OfferingGideon presents an offering of meat and unleavened bread, which is consumed by fire as a sign of divine acceptance and presence. Teaching Points Divine EncounterGideon's encounter with the Angel of the LORD reminds us that God meets us in our doubts and fears, offering assurance of His presence and calling. Acceptance of OfferingsThe consumption of Gideon's offering by fire signifies God's acceptance. In our lives, God desires our sincere offerings of faith and obedience. God's Power and PresenceThe miraculous sign of fire demonstrates God's power and presence, encouraging us to trust in His ability to work beyond our understanding. Faith in ActionGideon's initial doubt transforms into faith as he witnesses God's sign. We are called to move from doubt to action, trusting in God's promises. God's Choice of the HumbleGideon's humble background and initial fear highlight that God often chooses the humble and unlikely to accomplish His purposes, encouraging us to be open to His calling regardless of our perceived inadequacies. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Gideon's initial reaction to the Angel of the LORD reflect our own struggles with doubt and fear when called by God? 2. In what ways does the consumption of the offering by fire serve as a confirmation of God's presence and approval in our lives today? 3. How can we apply the lesson of God's power and presence in our current challenges and uncertainties? 4. What does Gideon's transformation from doubt to faith teach us about the process of spiritual growth and trust in God? 5. How can we be open to God's calling in our lives, even when we feel inadequate or unworthy, as Gideon initially did? Connections to Other Scriptures The appearance of the Angel of the LORD in Judges 6:21 can be connected to other instances in the Old Testament where the Angel of the LORD appears, such as to Hagar in Genesis 16 and to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3. These appearances often signify divine intervention and guidance. The concept of fire consuming an offering as a sign of divine acceptance is also seen in 1 Kings 18, where Elijah's offering is consumed by fire from heaven, demonstrating God's power and approval. The theme of God using unlikely individuals for His purposes is echoed in 1 Corinthians 1, where Paul speaks of God choosing the foolish and weak things of the world to shame the wise and strong. | Divine Mercy: its Adaptation and Sufficiency | A.F. Muir | Judges 6:7, 8, 11, 34 | | A Look, a Word, and a Question | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Judges 6:11-24 | | Brotherhood Illustrated by Gideon's Reply | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Death Impossible | C. D. Bradlee. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Altar | A. Maclaren, D. D. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Angelic Visitor | R. Young, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Attitude Partly Right and Partly Wrong | Marcus Dods, D. D. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Call to Service | C. Leach, D. D. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Commission | J. Irons. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Interview with the Angel | F. Elwin. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Lament | W. Miller, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Might | J. T. Hamly. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Obedience to God's Call | W. Miller, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Sacrifice | The Weekly Pulpit | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Sacrifice Accepted | F. Elwin. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Gideon's Triumph | Homilist | Judges 6:11-24 | | God's Call, and the Response to It | R. A. Watson, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | How to Treat Doubters | Prof. G. A Smith. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Invisible Might | G. A. Rogers, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Jehovah-Shalom | G. A. Rogers, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Jehovah-Shalom | J. J. S. Bird. | Judges 6:11-24 | | Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord Our Peace | R. Newton, D. D. | Judges 6:11-24 | | One War Over and Another Begun | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Judges 6:11-24 | | Providence not to be Judged from a Narrow Point of View | J. Parker, D. D. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Assurance of Peace Vouchsafed to Gideon | W. W. Duncan, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Christian's Peculiar State | E. Temple. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Divine Afflatus | W. W. Duncan, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Look of God | Homilist | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Man of Valour | W. Burrows, B. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Sign | G. A. Rogers, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Witness of Divine Fire and the Altar of Divine Peace | Henry T. Edwards, M. A. | Judges 6:11-24 | | War | Prof. G. A. Smith. | Judges 6:11-24 | | The Sign - the Present Turned into a Sacrifice | A.F. Muir | Judges 6:18-21 |
People Abiezer, Abiezrites, Amalek, Amalekites, Amorites, Asher, Egyptians, Ephah, Gideon, Israelites, Jerubbaal, Jezreel, Joash, Manasseh, Midianites, Naphtali, Ophrah, ZebulunPlaces Egypt, Gaza, Jezreel Valley, Jordan River, Midian, OphrahTopics Angel, Bread, Burning, Cakes, Consumed, Consumeth, Consuming, Departed, Disappeared, Fire, Flame, Flared, Flesh, Forth, Longer, Meat, Messenger, Putteth, Reached, Rock, Rose, Sight, Sprang, Staff, Stick, Stretched, Tip, Touched, Touching, Unleavened, VanishedDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 6:21 4512 staff
4826 fire Judges 6:11-21 4478 meat Judges 6:11-24 8474 seeing God Judges 6:11-27 8131 guidance, results Judges 6:17-22 1449 signs, purposes Judges 6:19-21 4418 bread Judges 6:20-21 4354 rock Judges 6:21-22 4195 spirits Library Gideon's Altar
'Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah- shalom [God is peace].'--JUDGES vi. 24. I need not tell over again, less vividly, the picturesque story in this chapter, of the simple husbandman up in the hills, engaged furtively in threshing out a little wheat in some hollow in the rock where he might hide it from the keen eyes of the oppressors; and of how the angel of the Lord, unrecognised at first, appeared to him; and gradually there dawned upon his mind the suspicion …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureGideon's Fleece
'Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast said.'-- JUDGES vi. 37. The decisive moment had come when Gideon, with his hastily gathered raw levies, was about to plunge down to the plain to face immensely superior forces trained to warfare. No wonder that the equally untrained leader's heart heat faster. Many a soldier, who will be steadfastly …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Jehovam-Shalem, the Lord Send Peace. Judg 6:24
…
John Newton—Olney Hymns Whether it is a Sin to Tempt God?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not a sin to tempt God. For God has not commanded sin. Yet He has commanded men to try, which is the same as to tempt, Him: for it is written (Malach. 3:10): "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in My house; and try Me in this, saith the Lord, if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven." Therefore it seems not to be a sin to tempt God. Objection 2: Further, a man is tempted not only in order to test his knowledge and his power, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Man Now Deprived of Freedom of Will, and Miserably Enslaved.
1. Connection of the previous with the four following chapters. In order to lay a proper foundation for the discussion of free will, two obstacles in the way to be removed--viz. sloth and pride. The basis and sum of the whole discussion. The solid structure of this basis, and a clear demonstration of it by the argument a majori ad minus. Also from the inconveniences and absurdities arising from the obstacle of pride. 2. The second part of the chapter containing the opinions of others. 1. The opinions …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Unity of the Divine Essence in Three Persons Taught, in Scripture, from the Foundation of the World.
1. Scripture, in teaching that the essence of God is immense and spiritual, refutes not only idolaters and the foolish wisdom of the world, but also the Manichees and Anthropomorphites. These latter briefly refuted. 2. In this one essence are three persons, yet so that neither is there a triple God, nor is the simple essence of God divided. Meaning of the word Person in this discussion. Three hypostases in God, or the essence of God. 3. Objection of those who, in this discussion, reject the use of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Of the Sacraments.
1. Of the sacraments in general. A sacrament defined. 2. Meaning of the word sacrament. 3. Definition explained. Why God seals his promises to us by sacraments. 4. The word which ought to accompany the element, that the sacrament may be complete. 5. Error of those who attempt to separate the word, or promise of God, from the element. 6. Why sacraments are called Signs of the Covenant. 7. They are such signs, though the wicked should receive them, but are signs of grace only to believers. 8. Objections …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Doctrine of God
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: (Vs. Atheism). 1. ASSUMED BY THE SCRIPTURES. 2. PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. a) Universal belief in the Existence of God. b) Cosmological:--Argument from Cause. c) Teleological:--Argument from Design. d) Ontological:--Argument from Being. e) Anthropological:--Moral Argument. f) Argument from Congruity. g) Argument from Scripture. II. THE NATURE OF GOD: (Vs. Agnosticism) 1. THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). 2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Pantheism). 3. THE UNITY …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 6:21 NIVJudges 6:21 NLTJudges 6:21 ESVJudges 6:21 NASBJudges 6:21 KJV
Judges 6:21 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
