Judges 6:19-24 - Peace! Do not be afraid!

6:19-22

Gideon went away and prepared a goat as a sacrifice. The angel of the Lord then takes over and tells him what to do with the sacrifice. He is to place it on a rock. The angel then touched the meat and unleavened bread, and fire flared from the rock. This consumed the meat and bread, and the angel then disappeared. This proved beyond doubt that it was indeed an angel of the Lord. There was both the action of the angel, and the acceptance of the sacrifice. For us we should know that the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son. 

6:23,24

Gideon was now in a dilemma because how could a man see the Lord and live? But God speaks to him saying “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die”. Jesus said similar words during His resurrection appearances. Men naturally fear God, even dread Him. But God chooses to meet with us, it is not His will to destroy those who repent and believe. In response Gideon built an altar calling it “The Lord is Peace”.