Gideon was one of the special people mentioned in the "pantheon" of faith (Hebrews 11:32). He was described in Judges 6:12 as a "mighty man of valour" by an angel while he was timidly threshing wheat in a disused winepress. His people were being oppressed and their farm produce had been continually destroyed by the amalekites before it could be harvested. The people were reduced to residing in caves and dens and we're dying of hunger. Gideon probably gathered dry wheat stalks together from the fields at night to see what he could salvage from their malnourished heads. He then took them to his father's empty winepress (where the enemy wouldn't think was being used to process food) and threshed them there.
Gideon didn't scoff at the angel but rather asked how God could be behind such a defeated people. The angel pointed at him as the one who would rescue Israel from its oppression. Gideon in verifying the authority of his interlocutor asks for and is shown evidence of God's authority on the angel.
Below then follows the direct communication (prayer progression) of Gideon in his deliverance of Israel;
Gideon : Alas! I am doomed having seen God's angel.
God: Peace be unto you
Gideon builds altar and names it Jehovah shalom (God of Peace)
God: take your father's 2nd young bullock, destroy baal's altar and Grove and offer sacrifice to Me
Gideon obeys at night
The Spirit of God moves Gideon and he rouses Israel's warriors
Gideon: if you will truly give us victory, wet this fleece and leave surrounding ground dry
God complies
Gideon: just to be sure pls do opposite and wet surrounding ground while leaving fleece dry.
God complies
Gideon gathers troops together.
God: these troops are too many. Send back those that are scared.
Gideon obeys and 22,000 depart leaving only 10,000 against "uncountable" soldiers from the enemy.
God: the troops are still too many. Order them to drink from the nearby stream and watch them. Those who lap with faces to the water should be separated from those who drink with their hands. Send the former home
Gideon obeys. 9,700 warriors are sent home leaving 300 warriors to fight against an uncountable army.
God: I have given the enemy into your hand. You've already won. But if you're scared, it's OK. Take phurah your servant and go down into the enemy camp and confirm what I've told you.
Gideon obeys and hears a dream interpreted of his victory against the enemy.
Emboldened, Gideon leads his 300men against the enemy and puts them to flight.
What we learn is that prayer is a conversation between us and God. It is 2 way. And it often involves displays of faith, even when obeying "worsens" our situation. Obeying God is faith. When we learn to trust God, our relationship with Him grows and he bolsters our faith in him through supernatural demonstrations.
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