Scripture: Judges7:1-25 (selected)
Last
week, we examined the call to judgeship that the LORD had placed on Gideon’s
life, as well as the response that he gave to the LORD’s angel. And as you may remember, the task ahead for him
was that he would be part and parcel of God’s defeat of Midian, and that the
strength that he already had would be sufficient, whether he felt that it was
or not!
His
faith was strong, but since he wanted to be sure that this truly was God’s
call, he asked for two signs, just so he wouldn’t miss out on the divine truth
of the LORD’s call.
God was truly faithful, and each sign
was provided perfectly. In Deuteronomy32:3-4, we
read “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and
just is he.” And He was that very
rock for Gideon.
The
man discovered that God, in his invitation to service, was perfectly faithful,
and wanted the man to understand that without a doubt. The task would be stressful, and would
require the highest degree of confidence and trust, while the LORD would be working with and
through humanity to accomplish the victory that had been promised.
Gideon
had gained that confidence and trust, and he accepted the call to be part of God’s
defeat of the Midianite army. So today, in
our 5th Lesson from the Book of Judges, we will consider how God’s
plan will proceed, and what part Gideon would play in the effort.
Read Judges7:1-8a
Last week, we read that Gideon confessed that his family was the
weakest in the half-tribe of Manasseh, and that he was the least in his entire
family. This man was anything but
the epitome of a hero! No great heritage
to support him, no experience as a mighty warrior, and even though the angel
referred to him as a “mighty warrior”, Gideon was, in reality, a farmer.
He had called for warriors from four of the strongest tribes, and had
32,000 men with him in camp as he waited for the LORD’s instruction. Gideon trusted God for whatever was about to
come, but how about his army? Where was
their trust? Was it in God? In themselves? In Gideon? In Deuteronomy
20:1-9, we see that the offer to the solders that they could go home if they
were afraid has a precedent – that if any are afraid, they should
return home, for if they should stay to enter battle, their fear could easily
infect others.
But this time, the LORD had a totally different reason for paring
down the military force – He wanted them to understand just who was going to
win the day, and while it would involve them, it would be God who would be the
power behind the victory.
And for us, our human abilities, as significant as they may appear, have
no power except for what stands within our Almighty God. And His gift to us is the opportunity to see
firsthand what he can do through the trust and faith that we show to Him.
Read Judges 7:8b-14
While
22,000 soldiers were culled from the ranks, Gideon remains, even though we
discover that he, too, may have been a bit apprehensive about the coming
conflict. But God cares for that,
too. He sends his leader and one of his
servants secretly to the Midian camp, where they overhear a conversation
between 2 of those soldiers. It was
about a dream that one had, and they both realize that it means that the
Israeli forces will, without a doubt, be victorious the next day.
It
seems that God will go to any length to reassure and enable his people when
they follow him faithfully. Gideon, apparently,
had no idea as to what the LORD had in store for him, but over and over, he is encouraged and
strengthened in faith. This is one of
God’s trademarks – that He will never abandon us (Hebrews 13:5-6) in our time of need, and
that is especially true of those times when we are closely following His call.
We
are probably most familiar with this promise from Hebrews, but it was
originally given to ancient Israel, first in Deuteronomy 31:6, and later is affirmed in Psalm 118:5-9, where we read “The LORD is with me; I will not be
afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” This is an eternal covenant that has existed
since faith in God was realized to be the only true power for our lives. And He continues to work in the same, strange
way, even today and beyond.
The
problem with this world, though, is that they don’t understand divine, Godly power,
and even worse, don’t have any desire to.
They believe in their own physical and mental abilities, and see no need
to depend on anything, or anyone, else.
But the Church should know better than that. We have a promise that the Spirit of God will
be active in every life who trusts in Jesus and His word (John14:15-18). Unfortunately, all too many, even some who claim
to be Christians, don’t look to the LORD’s promise of power for their life, either.
Judges 7:15-21
Trumpets, in that day, were used to guide troops as they marched toward
battle. And to hear 300 of those
instruments, indicating as much as 300 units of solders, would frighten any
army – especially after word of the solder’s dream had spread throughout the
Midian camp. The LORD had given Gideon
the courage and faith to do exactly as he had been told, and He had even
planted the dream in the mind of the Midianite solder.
And to top it off, did anyone see any reference to Israel drawing even
one sword, or stringing one bow? The
power of Israel was missing during this engagement, so that the victory would
be assigned completely to their Almighty God Jehovah. Defeat of the massive Midianite army was
accomplished through the power of God, and the faithfulness of the 300. Midian didn’t realize that there were only
300 Israeli solders, and they certainly didn’t know the ONE true God who was,
above everything else, the decisive force.
And He will do this for us today.
Perhaps not in military conflict, but in ways that are needed at the
time, and through those who are faithful to the point that whatever God asks
for, is faithfully carried out.
Read Judges 7:24-25b
The enemy fled from the field of battle, but there was one more danger
awaiting them at the Jordan – Gideon would send a message to the forces of Ephraim
to cut them off at the river, and the foreign troops, who were already demoralized
and frightened half to death, were easy pray for this additional force. The victory would be complete – not by the
strength of Israel, but through the authority and command of the LORD Jehovah.
Gideon would live and serve for another 40 years, and during that time,
Israel knew peace – until, as we now know, the Judge died, and Israel forgot
the lesson of Gideon. They returned to
Baal worship, and quickly neglected all that they had been shown about their LORD.
May we learn from these lessons, and remember what our God desires for
our lives, and especially what He is prepared to do for and through each one of
us. For He will always be the ONE most decisive Person in all that we will ever
do.
May God be glorified through our faithful service.
