Does peace only exist in fairytales? And in the angels’ Christmas song: “And on earth peace, goodwill toward men”? Surrounded by demonstrations and discontent, the obstacles to peace can seem overwhelming. Gideon and the Israelites also faced desperate circumstances as God removed his hand of protection, allowing the Midianites to oppress them. But with his renewed help, they confronted their challenges and discovered peace (Judges 6—7). Perhaps we can too.      

Consequences

Rather than remain faithful to the LORD, the Israelites incorporated Baal worship into their religious practices. Despite warnings about the consequences of covenantal disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68), they failed to connect their syncretism with their suffering. Because of the Israelites’ unfaithfulness, God allowed their enemies to impoverish them.

The poverty the Israelites faced was all-inclusive, reflecting their financial, mental, social, and spiritual privation. Shamed by their helplessness, they hid in caves. Finally, the Israelites cried out to God, not in repentance, but despair. God first sent a prophet to remind them their idolatry rescinded their right to his rescuing promise. But they ignored the prophet.

How should we expect God to react when we run after the same gods as unbelievers? Nevertheless, he again showed mercy to the Israelites.

Obstacles to Peace Gideon Faced

An angel visited Gideon, revealing God’s plan to rescue his people, uncovering three obstacles to peace: 

• Assumptions: The Israelites blamed God for their plight, assuming if he were with them, if he were powerful, their lives would be stress-free. 
  • As Western Christians, we often assume God wants comfort and happiness for us. Yet God is more concerned about our character than our comfort, our holiness than our happiness.
• Blindness: When the angel called Gideon a “mighty warrior” (indicating his honorable family), Gideon claimed weakness. He wanted rescue, not responsibility. His self-centered focus betrayed his blindness to his obligations and God’s covenant promises. Nevertheless, the LORD promised to accompany Gideon, guaranteeing victory.
  • How do we respond when God invites us to join him? Although we know he always empowers the called, are we blind to his presence and power?
• Covenant unfaithfulness: To highlight the Israelites’ core problem and disloyalty to their patron, God directed Gideon to destroy his father’s altar to Baal. So, the Midianites prepared to attack. “Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon” [the Spirit of the LORD put on Gideon like clothes] (Judges 6:34), empowering him for battle. When Gideon called the Israelites to arms, they followed. Despite being clear about God’s call, clothed with his Spirit, and confirmed by his countrymen, Gideon hesitated. He procrastinated, proposing a series of signs, which God graciously granted. Finally, Gideon led the Israelites to defeat the Midianites.
  • When God’s directions contradict our desires, do we find excuses to delay obedience?

How Are the Obstacles Gideon Faced Like Ours?

Today our country faces racial issues that have been brewing for generations. Before we can overcome obstacles, we must identify them. How are our obstacles like Gideon’s?

• Assumptions: We often assume everyone experiences the world as we do. Working in Asia and with a race relations group in Texas taught me to challenge that assumption. The playing field is not level—neither in education nor employment opportunities. The color of my skin doesn’t cause people to question my motives, financial reliability, or good neighbor potential. No one tells me I’m a credit to my race or expects me to speak for the white community. I can only know other cultures and ethnic groups from the outside, never understanding what it’s like to live in their world. I can put on their shoes but not their skin. Those who haven’t experienced discrimination can have head knowledge but not heart knowledge. The assumptions we make about one another are often incorrect.
• Blindness: How many times have my questions caused grief and betrayed my blindness to another’s pain? To the anguish of injustice, to the damage caused by my words and ways. Oblivious to the challenges they face or the choices they must make. Blind to my responsibility to speak out and stand up in the face of prejudice. Brothers and sisters of another mother have granted grace as I’ve blundered my way through multiple conversations.
• Covenantal unfaithfulness: Jesus calls his followers to live by the law of love, to love God and one another. To do ḥesed, which is God’s kind of love—the never-ending, merciful, faithful, long-suffering, loving-kindness kind of love. Giving ḥesed to God and each other. Caution: our expressions of love can be self-serving, lacking long-term commitment, only offered when it’s convenient.

Overcoming the Obstacles

Racism is more than random acts and attitudes of bigotry or discrimination. Buried deep, the roots of racism resist exposure and removal. Reconciliation requires more than wishful words and potluck dinners. Instead, we must address the inequality, inequity, injustice, and assaults on dignity inherent in the systemic racism that plagues our land. We must:

• Challenge our assumptions: Rather than assume we know the complaints, ask, then listen. Listen to the protestors. Why are they angry? What are their proposals to rectify the issues? Can we discard our defensive attitudes long enough to hear? Will we listen with humility?
• Confront our blindness: Recognize our complicity in the ongoing problem. Confession and repentance must follow recognition. How can we right the wrongs? Forgiveness on all sides is crucial, but we need repentance backed up by changed behaviors.
• Convert our unfaithfulness to faithfulness: To treat one another with ḥesed will result in relinquishing and restructuring power at all levels. How can we stand with the oppressed, working together to rebuild society in ways that honor God and each other? In ways that restore broken relationships and build honoring ones? Rather than returning to business-as-usual, we can discover creative ways to make God’s kingdom an earthly reality.

So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

Romans 14:19, CSB

Only the Prince of Peace can enable us to love God’s way and bring lasting peace. How can he use us to pursue and promote the process?