But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.

 

The angel of the Lord is speaking to Gideon, who seriously doubts that he is the right man to lead the Israelites into battle against the Midianites. Hiding in a wine press, Gideon is paralyzed by a fear of the enemy and a low self-image. Yet these are the kind of people that God uses for His glory. “Do not fear” is the command that appears more than any other in the Scripture, for God chooses those who know they need His help over those who think that they can do it themselves.