Gideon's sign was peace

In Judges 6:11–24 we read about how Gideon asks for a sign that the messenger was truly from the lord. The manual points out that this indicates that “messengers may sometimes be from the wrong source” and that it is important to tell the difference. In this instance the angel transformed the simple meal provided by Gideon into a burnt offering as a sign that he was from God. Then Gideon received peace in his heart which was also a sign. Gideon later built a monument to the lord there and called it Jehovah-shalom which means Lord of peace.

I think that Gideon miraculous experience parallels nicely with a common experience of those who exercise faith in the lord. Gideon offered the angel a modest meal and the Lord’s power was manifested which was followed by the Lord’s peace. I have found it to be common experience that I bring a modest offering to the lord and he is able to make what I can give to him so much greater. In these moments I often feel a quiet feeling of peace and I know through the spirit that the magnification of my efforts is as a result of his mercy and I am then able to more clearly see his hand moving in my life.

Greater Context

In Numbers 15:32–36 it is described how a man was found picking up sticks on the sabbath. The man was taken to Moses by the people because they did not know what should be done with him for violating the sabbath. Moses took the mater to the Lord and the Lord instructed them to stone the man to death which was then done.

At first blush this might seem like a brutal and frivolous waste of life but we must put it into context. As the manual points out the law of the sabbath and the consequences for violating it had just been explained to the Israelites and that this was an act of defiance to the law not merely an accident or an honest mistake. Even so one my wonder why there was such a harsh punishment for something as small as picking up sticks. Keep in mind that not long after this that the Israelites joined with the Moabites in ritualistic whoredoms in the worship of a false god. Such a large act of rebellion as a community does not happen out of the blue. It is led up to by rebellious thoughts, communication, and smaller acts. The lord knowing the hearts of the people knew how dire the nature of their proto-mutinous state. By having this individual stoned the Lord was removing a cancer from the people and sending a message to the people.

I also think that perhaps there may be additional context not included overtly in the text. A question we could ask ourselves is, for what purpose was the individual “gathering sticks”? first we must consider that God is just and good and we therefore can assume that he had good reason for his actions even if those reasons are not easily detected or understood. I think it is not unreasonable to conjecture that it was not just the picking up of sticks on the sabbath but also what the sticks were being prepared for. There are many instances in the scriptures of improper sacrifices being offered in rebellion, which are greatly sacrilegious acts. There are also many instances of various types of fiery tributes offered to false Gods such as the burned human sacrifices offered to Molech.

If this individual was gathering sticks on the sabbath for the purpose of sacrilegious or Idol worship then decisive action would be required. The manual also offers an additional line of reasoning as follows.

“think for a moment of what had just happened to Israel. They, as a nation, had despised the word of the Lord, first, by refusing to go up against the Canaanites when the Lord had told them to, and second, by going up against them after the Lord had told them not to. Thus, Israel had been denied entry into the promised land. Now, an individual despised the word of the Lord and refused to enter the rest required on the Sabbath. Just as Israel was to suffer death in the wilderness for their rebellion, so a rebellious individual must be punished with the same punishment. Otherwise, God would be inconsistent.”