When Your God Doesn’t Answer 📵 … and the One Who Does 🔊

By Pastor Gary Boyd

Have you ever tried getting in touch with someone who just refuses to respond?

You text—no reply.

You call—straight to voicemail.

You even leave a nice message… still nothing.

But you’ve probably learned this trick: don’t waste time calling them. Call the person who actually picks up! ☎️

That just makes sense, doesn’t it?

In Judges 6, we meet two “gods.” One who doesn’t pick up the phone. One who always answers. And in the middle of the story? A man named Gideon who’s learning to put his faith in the God who shows up.

Baal: A God Who Can’t Be Bothered 🙄

Gideon had just received a divine calling. But before he could go to battle, God gave him a surprising first assignment: deal with the idols in his own backyard 🪵🔥.

That same night, God told him:

• Tear down your father’s altar to Baal
• Cut down the nearby grove (likely for Asherah)
• Build a new altar to the Lord
• Sacrifice your father’s bull on it

Talk about awkward family drama 😬. Gideon obeyed—but he waited until dark. He was afraid of what his dad and the townspeople might say (or do). So, with ten servants, he carried out God’s command under the cover of night.

🌅 By morning, chaos erupted.

• Baal’s altar? Demolished.
• The grove? Gone.
• A new altar to the Lord? Still smoldering.

The townsmen were outraged and quickly found the culprit: Gideon. And they were ready to kill him.

But Gideon’s dad—formerly loyal to Baal—stepped in with a mic-drop moment 🎤:

“If Baal’s really a god, let him defend himself.”

💥Boom.

Guess what Baal did?

Absolutely nothing.

No divine fire.

No curse.

No whisper.

Because Baal was fake. Just a lifeless statue. The god of silence.

From that day forward, Gideon got a nickname: Jerubbaal, which means “Let Baal fight for himself.”

Spoiler: Baal never did.

God: A Father Who Always Answers 📣✨

While Baal stayed silent, the one true God was getting ready to make some noise.

The Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern armies had gathered in the valley of Jezreel—a massive, beautiful stretch of land west of the Jordan. It wasn’t just another raid. This was a full-on invasion 😠.

In response, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. With heaven’s power behind him, he blew the trumpet, summoned his people, and began preparing for war 🪖.

But even with God’s Spirit on him, Gideon still had doubts 🤔. He asked God for a sign.

➡️ First Test:

He put a fleece of wool on the ground overnight. He asked that only the fleece be wet with dew while the ground stayed dry.

📌 Result: The fleece was soaked. He wrung out a bowl full of water. Ground? Bone dry.

➡️ Second Test (just to be sure 😅):

He reversed the request. This time he asked for a dry fleece and wet ground.

📌 Result: Done. Exactly as he asked.

Now let’s pause here. Would you have gotten frustrated if someone asked you to “double-check” your promise like that? 😤

But God wasn’t annoyed. He was patient. Gracious. Kind.

He responded—not once, but twice—to a man still learning how to trust.

Who Are You Really Counting On? 🤷‍♂️

When you put these two scenes together—Baal’s silence and God’s response—you’re left with a powerful contrast:

• One god couldn’t lift a finger.
• The other worked miracles overnight.

So… why were the Israelites still loyal to Baal?

And maybe the better question is:

🟡 What about us?

Modern Idols Still Can’t Hear You 🔇

We don’t bow to stone statues anymore—but we still build altars.

💸 Money

🍷 Alcohol

⚽ Sports

📺 Entertainment

📱 Social media

These things might be real, but they’re not relational. They can’t hear your prayers. They don’t love you. They won’t show up when you’re in need.

But there is One who will.

💡 Only one God made you.

💡 Only one God sacrificed for you.

💡 Only one God wants a relationship with you.

💡 Only one God hears and responds.

Final Thoughts 🧠❤️

Before Gideon ever stepped onto the battlefield, he had to clean house—tearing down false gods and making room for the living God.

Maybe it’s time for us to do the same. 🙏

🛑 Stop calling out to things that never answer.

📞 Start leaning into the God who always does.

He’s not silent.

He’s not absent.

He’s not annoyed by your questions.

He welcomes them.

And when you’re ready to follow, He’s already waiting.

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