Bible moment
The Bible moment
Judges 6:11–24 describes the beginning of Gideon’s call. The angel of the LORD appears while Gideon beats wheat in a winepress to hide it from Midian. Gideon is called to deliver Israel, but he explains that his clan is the weakest in Manasseh. He asks for a sign. Fire consumes his offering, and Gideon builds an altar to the LORD. This passage presents a calm divine encounter and shows Gideon responding while he is still aware of his weakness and fear. The offering in this sign scene is not identified as a bull. Later in Judges 6, Gideon obeys God by tearing down Baal’s altar at night and building an altar to the LORD, but that later action is not the focus of this illustration.
Look closely
What children can notice
Gideon carefully beats wheat in a winepress at Ophrah while the angel of the LORD speaks with him beneath the oak. The scene can show Gideon listening with wonder, a small offering and altar nearby, and a calm beam of light representing the divine sign without depicting God the Father as an elderly man.
Talk together
Talk about it
- Why do you think Gideon was hiding the wheat?
- What might help someone obey when they feel afraid?
For families, church, and class
Use this page
Use this page to introduce Gideon’s call before teaching the later events in Judges 6–7. Invite children to notice the winepress, wheat, oak, offering, and altar. Present Gideon’s fear honestly without treating fear as failure. Keep the divine encounter peaceful, and explain that the fleece later in the story was Gideon’s request for reassurance, not a required practice for everyone.
Source note
From this passage
Judges 6:11–24 · Gideon Defeats Midian
Gideon carefully beats wheat in a winepress at Ophrah while the angel of the LORD speaks with him beneath the oak. The scene can show Gideon listening with wonder, a small offering and altar nearby, and a calm beam of light representing the divine sign without depicting God the Father as an elderly man.
