Gideon and the Fleece

Threshing in the winepress for fear; called mighty man of valor while hiding; tears down his father's altar at night; lays fleece twice; army reduced from thirty-two thousand to three hundred. Failure mode: Fear of the men of his city; ephod made later becomes a snare. Restoration path: Smash the family idol even at night; let God reduce the army; do not make an ephod after victory. Markers: called valiant while hiding; family idol must be smashed; asks repeated signs; God reduces the army; later prosperity becomes a snare