He said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
“﻿Peace!﻿” the word is shalom, the word which Gideon borrowed and applied to the altar which he raised in obedience to the Lord’s bidding. It signifies not only quiet, but prosperity, success, “﻿good fortune,﻿” as the multitude say. When God spoke that word home to his dear servant’s heart a great joy was born within him to prepare him for his great warfare. The Lord also cheered him with, “﻿Fear not.﻿” Oh, that charming word; as full as it is short “﻿Fear not.﻿” What is there to fear? If God is with you, of whom can you be afraid? Gideon feared himself, dreaded his own unfitness and unworthiness, feared in the awful presence of God; but the Lord said, “﻿Fear not,﻿” and Gideon’s heart grew calm.
