When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Alas, O LORD God! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22–24)

Gideon, the fifth of 15 judges of ancient Israel, which included such luminaries as Samson and the prophet Samuel, followed the lone woman judge. While the vast majority of leaders recorded in Scripture were men, God at times raised up women. In Deborah’s time, the men of Israel were weak-kneed and would not even go to battle unless she was with them (presumably not because of any physical or military prowess on her part). So after her death, Gideon’s military strategies and exploits made him stand out for extended treatment by the writer of the Book of Judges.

Against the backdrop of the Midianites’ assaults on Israel, God sent “The angel of the LORD [Yawheh]” to a humble farmer named Gideon to lead His people to victory over the enemy. The evidence shows that this was no ordinary angel but a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. First, the way this phrase “angel of the LORD” is used in Scripture (see Gen 16:7-11; 22:11-15, etc.) points toward God Himself. For instance, to Moses the angel of the LORD appeared in a burning bush, but the voice was identified as that of God Himself (Ex 3:2-3, 6). Second, the angel of the LORD is treated with greater deference in Scripture than common angels. And finally, there is no mention of the angel of the LORD after the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

In response to the LORD’s commissioning him, Gideon was overwhelmed and greatly feared for his life (possibly due to fear of dying in battle, but more surely due to being in the LORD’s presence, similar to Isaiah’s fear in Isaiah 6:5). “Alas, LORD God! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face” (Judges 6:22). The LORD responded, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” What comforting thoughts for the fearful farmer.

At this, Gideon built an altar, a common memory device in OT Israel, and called it “Yahweh Shalom” or “The LORD is Peace.” By inferential application we too can say the LORD is our Peace. This reminds us of our Lord in the upper room the night before He died: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

LORD, help me to see the peace You bring to my life, despite anxious fears that can so easily consume me.