The Divine Invitation: Offering Our All to God

In Judges 6:20, we encounter a pivotal moment in the life of Gideon, a reluctant hero of the faith. The verse states, "And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so." To grasp the full depth of this command, we must first understand the context in which it was delivered. Gideon was in a state of fear and uncertainty, grappling with the oppression of the Midianites and struggling with his own doubts about his abilities as a leader. In the midst of all his doubts, the angel of the Lord presents an unexpected challenge—an invitation to offer sacrifice.

What strikes me profoundly in this passage is Gideon's act of obedience amidst his turmoil. The angel's instructions came with specificity and clarity—he was to take flesh, unleavened cakes, and broth, lay them on a rock, and pour them out. This directive not only required Gideon to gather the elements but also to exercise strength and faith in a demanding situation. The rock represents a solid foundation—a place of meeting between the human and the divine.

In our own lives, we often find ourselves wrestling with feelings of inadequacy, just as Gideon did. We might feel like our offerings—both physical and spiritual—are meager compared to the challenges we face. Yet, it is in these moments of vulnerability that God invites us to lay our burdens, fears, and offerings at His feet. Just as He instructed Gideon to bring forth the flesh and cakes, God desires the genuine offerings of our hearts.

Gideon’s decision to obey despite his fears is a reminder that God often calls us to act before we see the complete picture. The worship that pleases God is not always one of grand gestures; sometimes, it is simply laying aside our trepidations and stepping into obedience. Here, God is asking Gideon not merely for physical items; He is inviting him into a deeper relationship and demonstrating that no offering is too small when offered in faith.

Consider the unleavened cakes, an emblematic symbol of purity and sincerity. Leaven in Scripture often represents sin or corruption, and it is interesting to note that God’s instruction to place unleavened cakes signifies His desire for a pure heart and untainted motives. When we come to God, He asks for purity in our hearts and irritations that may reside within us. To worship God authentically means to seek spiritual purity and offer ourselves accurately before Him.

The act of pouring out broth signifies the offering our whole selves in sacrifice. It reflects a symbol of abundance flowing forth and the willingness to part with something we may hold dear. This act encapsulates surrender. God is asking us not just to offer our tangible items but also our very lives—our ambitions, dreams, and even our fears. Pouring out signifies letting go of control and allowing God to dictate the outcomes.

As Gideon acted in obedience, we must remember that God does not desire from us what we do not have; instead, He seeks what we are willing to give. The reality of offering something meaningful to God is it demands a piece of us—our time, our resources, our energy—and requires from us the courage to set aside our hesitations.

Let us reflect today on what we might need to lay on the altar before God—a project at work that we’ve been holding onto tightly, a relationship in our lives that needs healing, or a sin that we’re reluctant to confront. God is waiting for us to lay it on the rock. He invites us not just into sacrifice but into communion with Him. As we pour out our offerings this week, let them be poured out in total surrender, trusting that God will turn our simple acts of faith into something remarkable.

Artwork for Judges 6:20

Judges 6:20 - "And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so."

"And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so." - Judges 6:20

Judges 20:6 - "And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel."

Judges 15:20 - "And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years."

Judges 20:29 - "And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah."

Judges 20:20 - "And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah."

Judges 6:6 - "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."

Judges 20:19 - "And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah."

Judges 5:20 - "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera."

Judges 21:20 - "Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;"

Judges 20:27 - "And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,"

Judges 20:44 - "And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour."

Judges 20:24 - "And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day."

Judges 20:7 - "Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel."

Ezekiel 20:4 - "Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:"

Judges 14:20 - "But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend."

Judges 1:20 - "And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak."

"And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." - Judges 15:20

1 Corinthians 6:2 - "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"

Judges 18:20 - "And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people."

Judges 20:9 - "But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;"

Judges 20:11 - "So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man."

"And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel." - Judges 20:6

Judges 3:6 - "And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods."

Luke 6:37 - "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Judges 20:47 - "But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months."

Judges 20:41 - "And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them."

Judges 20:12 - "¶ And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?"

Judges 6:36-40 – Gideon’s fleece test for dew.

Judges 20:14 - "But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel."