V.11-18 God saw only one man, Gideon, whom He was going to use to deliver Israel from their enemies. Because of their disobedience, Israel had sunk to the lowest condition since they arrived in the glorious land.
V.11 Threshing wheat is separating the kernel from the chaff — a picture of separating truth from error (Prov. 25:4; Jer. 15:19; 23:28; 2 Cor. 6:14). We doubt if there is any more important lesson in our life to learn than this one. “To depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). When we confess our sins to Him, He hears, He delights to bless us (Prov. 28:13).
V.13 True statements. It was not that God had made a mistake, or that all this happened by chance. They disobeyed and brought trouble on themselves.
V.15-18 Gideon sees his weakness. This is good. But he needs to look away to God’s power, and he does.
V.19-20 If Gideon had not been threshing the wheat, he probably wouldn’t have had any wheat ready for a meal-offering to God. Unless we are living to please the Lord, we won’t be able to do what it says in Hebrews 13:15.
V.33-40 God graciously proves His power to Gideon.