“Gideon was a coward and idolater."
So declares Carmen Joy Imes in an article posted on Christianity Today on March 4, 2025. Frankly, I expect better from someone who is an associate professor of Old Testament.
Sadly, misguided beat downs on Gideon are common in sermons and articles. This comes from the persistent cultural error of insistently mistaking the quiet strength and wisdom of introverts as cowardice and hesitation.
Gideon’s story shows up beginning in the sixth chapter of Judges. To get to the idea that Gideon is a coward, the first 10 verses – offering crucial context – are skipped over and preachers go right to verse 11 where it says, “Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites” (CSB). Then there’s the whole wet fleece, dry fleece thing at the end of the chapter.
“See!” the preacher gleefully declares. “Gideon was hiding! He was a scaredy cat! He was a coward! He was indecisive!” And this becomes the warped theme of their misleading sermons and articles.
No, Gideon was not a coward. Rather, he was a wise introvert.
Sadly, because most introverts tend to be quiet, cautious, and measured in their approach to challenging situations, others (extroverts) view them as being cowardly, hesitant, and indecisive.
This is a really wrong reading of what’s happening with both Gideon and introverts in general.
Let’s look at those oft-ignored verses in Judges 6.
The Israelites were enduring a 7-year discipline from the Lord (v. 1). This meant that “whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east came and attacked them” (v. 3), so the Israelites “made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds” (v. 2). When the marauders came, they were “like a great swarm of locusts” and “entered the land to lay waste to it” (v. 5). As a result of this, they “destroyed the produce of the land” leaving “nothing for Israel to eat” nor did they leave any “sheep, ox, or donkey” (v. 4).
Imagine you’re an Israelite in this situation. You’re trying to survive. You plant a crop, and, Boom!, here come the marauders – as thick and voracious as locusts. They take everything that’s out in the open. Your food. The animals you need to help plant and harvest crops. And, for good measure, they take animals that could be used for food or transportation.
Experiencing legitimate and reasonable fear, you hide what you can in caves and hope for the best while waiting for the marauders to move on. This was the life of the Israelites – which includes Gideon – for seven years.
It is in this context that Gideon was “hiding.” Yes, he was fearful, but this doesn’t equate to cowardice. Anyone in that situation would be fearful.
In order to try to provide food for himself and his family, Gideon very wisely chose to do his wheat threshing as quietly and discreetly as possible. Had he “bravely” done this in the open, he likely would have been caught, his food taken, and maybe even his life forfeited.
You know that phrase, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? It’s not referring to introverts. True bravery understands when guerrilla warfare is the better choice over a full frontal assault.
In reality, what Gideon was doing was being bold and brave. There was still serious risk. But he was wisely doing what he could to mitigate the risk by being stealthy and vigilant. In other words, he was behaving like a shrewd introvert! God understands this when the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon saying, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior” (v. 12). You don’t call cowardly wimps “valiant warrior!”
In the next verses Gideon demonstrates typical introvert behavior. He seeks clarification, takes measured action, responds to the Holy Spirit, seeks additional clarification, and then displays his warrior side openly.
Throughout the entire process the angel of the Lord (aka God) never reprimands, chides, or rebukes Gideon. Even with the whole fleece thing, God is patient and methodical in dealing with Gideon, and, finally, encourages Gideon, saying “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die” (v. 23).
Simply put, God fully sees Gideon, understands his personality (the one he, God, gave him), and deals with him in a way that is respectful of his introversion (the way, he, God, created him).
Culturally, common labels too often attached to introverts include passive, halting, indecisive, shy, tentative, and wimpy. This is because introverts are shaped to be cautious, thoughtful, methodical, quiet, and intentional. In other words, God created introverts (like Gideon) to NOT be extroverts.
The bottom line? Two things.
First, read the Bible better. The bias against Gideon has been around for decades. That he is a coward is the default view. Yet, a close and careful reading of Judges 6-8 reveals a quietly brave man doing his best to serve God within the context of his God-given personality and character.
Second, quiet is not the same as weakness. The bias against introverts and for extroverts is just as persistent. Society equates bravery with boisterousness and brash action. This is deceptive as well as not fair to introverts. Bold is not a synonym for extroversion. Both introverts and extroverts can be appropriately bold within the context of their personality type.
Gideon, the “coward,” led an army of 300 men and routed the Midianite marauders. He and his army pursued every last one, even though exhausted (v. 8:4). Don’t underestimate the persistence of an introvert once they’ve caught a clear vision!
As for the idolator part of Imes' accusation, he wasn’t the one who committed idolatry. The people asked him to be king. Instead of agreeing to be king, or suggesting everyone take a break so he could think things over, he rashly creates an “ephod” which was a kind of idol.
While the details are sketchy, Gideon takes this ephod and erects it in the city. His intention may have been to create a visual reminder of all God had done for him and his people, but instead, the ephod became an object of worship and a “snare” to those who worshipped it.
Even introverts make mistakes. Fortunately, we can confess these and find forgiveness.
Still, the story of Gideon demonstrates how God acknowledges different personality types, and deals patiently and encouragingly with an introvert.
Gideon was not an extroverted, outgoing, charismatic, or flashy warrior hero. He was, instead a quiet hero who faced a tremendous challenge successfully. Just as introvert heroes are doing daily. Look carefully and you may just spot one!
Agree? Disagree? Love it? Hate it? Have a question about this blog or this post? Email me at Stephen@QuietlyFaithful.com
or leave a comment below. Share your story about being a Christian
introvert or let me know a specific topic you’d like to see addressed.
Read more here:
#12. Gideon (Part 1): He’s no wimp!
#13. Gideon (Part 2): Mistakes were made.
