Judges 7
-Now that the LORD had given His Divine signs to Gideon
performing a new miraculous work in a new generation, Jerubbaal (that is
Gideon) and all his people rose and camped beside the spring of Harod. Midian
was camping on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
Gideon’s men had the high ground. But, the LORD spoke to His leader, “The
people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands,
for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me
(Judges 7:1-2).’” Therefore, God commanded Gideon to seek out those who were
afraid and trembling to let them return from their position on Mount Gilead. Approximately
22,000 returned to their homes, but 10,000 valiant warriors still remained. The
LORD told his servant Gideon that they were still too numerous. They were
brought down to the water of the springs to be tested by the LORD. If they
lapped the water like a dog or knelt to drink, they were to be sent home. The
only ones putting hands to their mouth to drink were a sparse 300 men. The rest
knelt down to drink the refreshing water. The LORD then spoke to Gideon, “I
will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into
your hands; so let all the other people go, each to his home.” This is what
Gideon did in obedience to the Sovereign. The 300 took their provisions and
their trumpets. That same night it came about that the LORD spoke further, “Arise,
go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands.” The LORD knew
there could be some fear to go alone, so He permitted Purah, Gideon’s servant,
to go along with him down to the camp of the enemy. God told them they would
hear what their enemies would say, and this would strengthen them. And, so they
did. “Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were
lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without
number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” When Gideon approached, he
heard one of the enemies relating a dream to his friend. In the dream, a loaf
of barley was tumbling into the camp of Midian coming to a tent and striking it
so that it fell turning the tent upside down and flattening it. The friend
replied that this was indeed a sign that the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash
of Israel, was given by God to defeat them. When Gideon heard the account and
interpretation of the dream, he bowed and worshipped his LORD. He returned to
his camp now positive of the LORD’s dominion over this affair. He told his
small group of fighters to arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian
into their hands. He divided the 300 men into three companies putting trumpets
and empty pitchers into their hands with torches inside the pitchers. He told
them to follow his example when they got to the outskirts of the camp. He
instructed that when he blew the trumpet, they were to blow their trumpets all
around the camp and proclaim, “For the LORD and for Gideon (Judges 7:3-18).”
-So Gideon took his company of 100 men and came to the
outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch (middle of the
night) when the new crew had just posted their watch. They blew the trumpets
and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands. Likewise, the rest of the
companies blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers in a brilliant tactical
maneuver for all time. Their torches were in their left hands and their trumpets
were in their right hands for blowing. They cried out as loud as they could, “A
sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” This totally spooked the enemy as they
arose from their slumber. They ran, crying out as they fled from their camp.
The LORD set the sword of one against the other in their confusion and chaos.
The army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of
Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. They were going back east as the men of Gideon’s army
now summoned back warriors from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh to pursue the
vanquished foe, Midian. Gideon sent out messengers throughout all the hill
country of Ephraim calling them to come down against Midian and take the waters
before them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. This the men from Ephraim did,
and they captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at
the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb even as they
pursued Midian in battle. They eventually brought back the heads of these two
leaders from across the Jordan in the east back to their leader, God’s valiant
warrior, Gideon (Judges 7:19-25).
-*Application* This is an incredible adventure that God got
the glory in because of complete obedience and trust. God gave the word, a few
miraculous signs, and Gideon followed to complete the assignment in the
deliverance of Israel during this time. God will often whittle down numbers in
our own lives to get our attention that it is Him, not us that has the power
for deliverance. Think of times that God has made much out of little and
multiplied His glory in doing so (Luke 9:13-17, John 6:1-13).
Verse to Memorize:
Judges 7:2
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