Judges 6:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

A man, enlightened and foreseeing the greatness of the future sacrament, turned away. In accordance with prophecy, he used the calf he had set aside to dismantle the idols of his father. He personally offered another seven-year-old calf as a sacrifice to God. In this act, Gideon clearly signified that, following the arrival of the Lord, all pagan offerings must be consumed by fire, as a single sacrifice of the Lord’s sufferings would be presented to God for the salvation of humanity. This calf served as a foreshadowing of Christ, in whom, as Isaiah proclaimed (Isaiah 11:2), the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit would reside in their entirety. This same calf was offered by Abraham when he perceived the day of the Lord, rejoicing in that vision (John 8:56). Thus, the Lord is depicted as a goat, as well as a sheep and a bullock. The goat symbolizes the atonement for sin, the ram signifies a voluntary offering, and the bullock represents a spotless sacrifice.

Why did the Lord instruct that a calf be prepared for Baal as a sacrifice to God? It was because He aimed to lead them away from falsehood and into the light of truth. Consequently, He ordered the destruction of the altar dedicated to Baal and the felling of the oak tree. The one who had been bestowed with this grace was called not only to live righteously but also to guide others in their faith.