Judges - 7
Gideon (Part 2)
We now come to the main part of Gideon’s story which I have called “Victory over the Midianites”. This is that part of his life to which everything had been leading. This is what God had called Gideon to do. This was the outcome of the preparation about which we learned in the previous talk. It runs right through Judges chapters seven and eight.
The army of the Midianites was encamped in the Valley of Jezreel about fifteen miles west of the Sea of Galilee and near to the hill of Morah. The army of Israel was pitched beside the well of Harod a few miles to the south of their enemy.
Something quite astounding to our ears was said to Gideon by the Lord. It was this: “The people that are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands.” Now remember that the Midianites were a huge host spread out along the valley floor. The army gathered together by Gideon amounted to about thirty-two thousand. The army of the Israelites did not even begin to match that of their Midianite enemy. Yet here is God saying that Gideon has too many soldiers!
How strange are the ways of the Lord. Indeed, Isaiah chapter fifty-five verse eight tells us: “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.” We are inclined to think in terms of having the right forces, the right equipment and the right strategy for the conflict. In our churches we can make the mistake of thinking that keeping up the numbers and the finances will ensure success. However, a lesson was being given to Gideon that we need to learn and re-learn for our spiritual benefit.
God’s lesson was more or less this: “The people are too many, and so that they will not boast against me that their own strength saved them, I am going to reduce their numbers.” The Lord had determined that He would give victory to an army of ridiculously small proportions. His purpose was to show that the conquest of the Midianites would be by his divine power, not by human superiority. This would be made obvious by the smallness of Gideon’s attacking force. No place would be allowed for boasting or self-satisfaction in Israel’s defeat of its enemies.
It is still true today that all the glory and praise must go to God and not to man. What was being taught then in the Valley of Jezreel needs to be remembered in our day. The Apostle Paul teaches us in his first letter to the Corinthians that God chooses the weak and despised things of the world to accomplish his purposes. It is all so that “no-one may boast before Him”, as he says in chapter one verse twenty-nine. If we are to boast at all we are to “boast in the Lord.” That’s verse thirty-one. Our salvation in Christ Jesus is from God and He is to receive the praise for that great victory in our life.
God’s first instruction to Gideon was for anyone who was afraid of the battle to return home. This produced an exodus of twenty-two thousand men. Just over two thirds of the army left the battlefield! More was to come. God warned that there were still too many, and a test was given to reduce the numbers even further.
The remaining ten thousand were to be brought down to the water and Gideon was to watch how they drank. Some kneeled down with their faces in the water; others cupped their hands and raised the water to their mouth. About three hundred drank in this latter way and God commanded that these be set aside to go against the Midianites.
Why did God choose the three hundred? They were part of the ten thousand braver souls who had not returned home, so it was not for their courage. Was it for watchfulness, drinking with their head up? But the enemy was a few miles away, unlikely to surprise them, with sentries mounted around the Israelite camp. In all probability the method of drinking was slightly unusual and this would give a smaller number of soldiers. The Lord would save by few, not many. The forthcoming victory would not feed Israel’s pride in any way.
Next, God graciously encouraged his apprehensive leader, Gideon, by directing him to go and overhear something on the edge of the Midianite camp. With his servant, Purah, Gideon crept up to the enemy lines and heard one soldier tell another of a dream he had had. In it a barley loaf tumbled into the Midianite camp and flattened a tent. As barley grew in the hills and wheat in the plain, the meaning was obvious. The soldier’s friend responded: “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” This was wonderful news for Gideon and we read that at that moment he worshipped God then returned to the Israelite camp.
Do you pause to praise God in silent prayer when wonderful news comes or some encouragement is given you in the course of the day? Do you thank God when some convicting truth from the Bible comes right home to your heart, a message from the Lord himself? Be ready to thank Him in swift acknowledgement of his goodness when it happens.
So, Gideon’s men advanced through the darkness in three separate groups and positioned themselves around the enemy camp. At about 10 p.m., after the Midianites had changed their sentries, the Israelites startled them with a simple trick. Standing quite still they blew their trumpets, smashed the earthen jars in which they had hidden their burning torches, and cried out: “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” In the blackness of the night the enemy thought he was under encircling attack, panicked, broke camp and fled south-east towards the river Jordan. The Israelites followed in hot pursuit and utterly defeated them. The Midianites were driven some seventy miles across the river into what is now the country of Jordan.
Who could have envisaged such a victory? Everything seemed to be against Gideon and his people. Yet once again God showed that the power and the glory belong to Him alone. Years earlier Moses had encouraged the Israelites, when they feared the pursuing Egyptians, with these words: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Over two hundred years later King Jehoshaphat heard this message from one of God’s prophets: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
All these instances show us that we need to trust in the Lord in the middle of life’s battles, whether involving sin, circumstances, people or situations. We all face our Midianite hosts from time to time. We fee so weak and insignificant. We feel sure we shall be overwhelmed. Just remember Gideon and his three hundred men and the God who fought for them.
If you are someone who thinks that you can successfully fight against God and his people and the message they bring, then please think again. It is foolish to set yourself up in opposition to the Almighty. Turn from your hostility. Seek forgiveness through the Lord Jesus and his death for your sin on the cross. Make peace with God who will give you his peace.