““On that very night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old.
Then tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
Build a well-constructed altar to the LORD your God on the top of this mound.
Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”
So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as the LORD had told him.
But because he was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night.” Judges 6:25-27
Before healthy growth can take place in a garden, old and harmful structures must be removed. In Judges 6, God commanded Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build an altar to the Lord in its place. This moment was about more than destruction than it was about remembering who God is.
The Hebrew word zakar means to remember, not merely in thought, but through action. Throughout Israel’s history, God called His people to remember Him by tearing down idols and restoring proper worship. Gideon’s obedience was an act of covenant remembrance.
In our own lives, idols are not always visible statues. They can be misplaced trust, fear of others, or attachment to what feels safe but no longer honors God. Like invasive roots in a garden, these must be removed so that faith can grow strong and undivided.
As women of faith standing with Israel, we are invited to zakar; to remember God’s faithfulness and respond with obedience. When we tear down what competes for our devotion, we make space for the Lord to rebuild our lives on a foundation of truth, worship, and trust.
Adrianne L. Watson is a licensed minister, missionary, and Bible teacher who equips leaders and brings Scripture to life through practical teaching, art, and gardening. She holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Dallas Theological Seminary. adriannelwatson.com
