Witness 2
Witness Two: Gideon and the 300 Men
The story of Gideon is found in Judges Chapters 6 -7.
An overview of the issue that led to God raising up Gideon as a leader, a judge, on behalf of Israel is that the disobedience of Israel had once again gotten the people of Israel into trouble and that trouble led them to cry out to the Lord for help. (Judges 6:6)
Remember how we acknowledged that there are different types of cries and different types of prayers? Well, in Judges 6:1-6 you see that the disobedience of Israel led to them falling into trouble.
In our previous study of different garments and tools of our armor, we learned about the importance of the key to understanding. Well, as you read over Judges Chapters 6 and 7, you will find that those who were causing the problems for the Israelites were the Midianites and the Amalekites. So let me take a moment to provide you with a key to understanding what you are looking at in these Chapters.
Just like Joshua was visited by the Commander of the Army of the Lord who instructed Joshua with battle strategy, so too was Gideon visited by an angel of the Lord.
Judges 6:12-16 New International Version
12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
BE YOURSELF
Gideon was told to go with the strength that he had. He didn’t have to be someone that he was not. He didn’t have to imitate anyone else. He was told to be himself. So he responds, “my clan (family) is the weakest…, and I am the least in my family.” But, what he heard in return was what the Lord is saying to us all – “I will be with you”. Now you must catch and understand this.
When God calls you to do something, even when it seems far out of your ability to do, arise to the call because God wants to use you.
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9
The power of God is shown mighty in our what?
Do It Afraid
Gideon goes as the Lord has told him. He has some fears, so some things he tries to do it under the cloak of darkness. (Judges 6:27) But in this, we get to learn, like Gideon did, that what is done in the darkness will be brought to the light. Not only was what Gideon exposed but Gideon was also protected from harm. Why? We know that answer.
Read Romans 8:31 “When God is for us, __________________________.”
So now the time comes for Gideon to do that which God has called him to do. How does Gideon know? Gideon knew because the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. (Judges 6:34) You will definitely know when God is moving upon you to do something. It will be heavy and unrelenting in your spirit. Jeremiah described it as “a fire shut up in his bones”, and that is describing it lightly because the truth is you won’t be able to rest until you do what you have been called to do.
When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, what did he do?
Notice that Gideon blew a trumpet.
The blowing of the trumpet required a response from those who heard it. There was a call to action. Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali, and Manasseh (four of the twelve tribes of Israel) gathered together to go to war against their “cousins” the Midianites and the Amalekites, but something curious happens. God says to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands.” All the glory and honor belong to God, and so the number of men in battle needed to be cut down so that they could not ever say that “they did it, they won the battle.” We must never forget that it’s by God’s strength not our own that we have and get victory in our battles.
Joshua Chapter 7 shows the men with Gideon being reduced to 300.
Judges 7:16-22 New International Version
16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
Did you catch what was revealed in Gideon’s experience?
Notice that, just like with Joshua’s experience, the battle cry did not go forth until after the trumpets sounded. But that is not all that is of great significance.
Notice also that it was when the trumpets sounded that the Lord also moved on behalf of Gideon and the 300 by causing the Midianites to turn on themselves. Are you seeing this?
Please proceed to Module 8 Battle Cry Witness #3
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