Today I read Judges 7 & 8, in which God had the fearful Gideon lead the people to victory with 300 men. Today I considered that God makes His children go beyond their comfort zone and God can do miracles with only a few people.
God’s Defeat of the Midianites
God helped Gideon win against a huge army with only 300 men (Judges 7:1-8:21). Gideon had 32,000 people with him ready to fight the Midianites. God said it was too many people because God wanted them to know God gave them the victory. Gideon told the fearful 22,000 men to leave. God had Gideon take the 10,000 men left to the river to drink water. God chose 300 men that lapped water with their tongues to fight the Midianites. God told Gideon to have go Phurah with him if he was afraid to go to the outside of the huge enemy camp. Gideon took him and heard an enemy soldier tell his comrade about a dream of them losing to Gideon. Gideon worshiped then obeyed God to take the 300 to fight the Midnites that night. Gideon had the 300 surround the camp, blow trumpets and declare God and Gideon were fighting the Midianites. God had the Midianites killing each other and fleeing. Gideon sent for others to help him kill the fleeing Midianites. As Gideon pursued, traveling through Succoth and Penuel, he asked for food to feed his men and these towns refused. Gideon promised to make them pay and did so including finding out who the leaders were in Succoth to harm them and killing some Penuel on his way back home.
Gideon Refuses Being King and Dies at an Old Age
Gideon directs the people to worship the Lord but they only listen until he dies (Judges 8:22-35). The Israelites wanted Gideon to be their king. Gideon refused and said the Lord was their ruler. Gideon went home and had 70 sons by his wives and concubines, dying in old age. They had peace for 40 years. When Gideon died many Israelites started worshiping Baalim.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Gideon was fearful in every step he took, requiring God’s reassurance, but Gideon followed God anyway. Gideon’s father was a leader and Gideon even had servants, but he was afraid to do anything without God showing a sign each step of the way. God stretched Gideon beyond his fear to doing God’s work, leading to victory and peace for another 40 years.
In what area of your life is God stretching you where you are normally fearful or hesitant?
God also had a few men make a huge impact against a multitude. Imagine the scene of 300 men against more men than they can count, probably more than the 32,000 men Gideon initially had. These men had enough faith in God to fight and God gave them the victory. God confounded the enemy and gave the victory to the few instead of the many.
When have you seen God fix something against the odds that it would be fixed?