In the time of the judges, Israel left God to chase idols again and again; only to return to God when He raised up a judge to get them out of the mess they had made for themselves, and to show His mercy and forgiveness. Gideon was called to be one of those judges. He was untried and unprepared for the role for which God called him. As God always has, he called the most unqualified, most teachable, and humblest of His servants so that His glory could shine.