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GIDEON (VII)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26
Judges 7:9-25

Mark 8:36

 

“What shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”

 

GIDEON (VII)
 
If the fifth lesson we find in God’s dealing with Gideon in relation to his call is the necessity of obedience, then the next lesson and one that is tied to the fifth has to be confidence. The events of the day in the reduction of the army were, to human nature, alarming and deflating. But Gideon, having submitted himself and the army to God in obedience, was now strengthened with confidence. The time had come for him to “go in this thy might” (Judg 6:14). He had obeyed God and allowed Him to try the people for him. He had allowed God to choose and filter the army. What had happened did not make sense in human warfare, but Gideon had sent away the rest of the men and retained the 300 men.
 
“And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him…” (Judg 7:9). The LORD orders all things according to His good will, and He had designed the encounter to confirm to Gideon that his choice to obey and submit to God was the right choice, and to give him and the 300 men confidence to face the Midianite multitude. A trip to the Midianite camp under the cover of darkness had him arrive at the camp to hear the enemy talking amongst themselves about Gideon’s victory. The trip inspired gratitude, worship and confidence (7:15).
 
“…The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon” (Judg 7:18, 20). With victory affirmed, and his confidence boosted by the visit to the Midianite camp that night, Gideon hastened to attack. The enemy scattered, confused and afraid in the dark at the sound of battle. The men of God, on the other hand, stood with their lamps in their hands. The battle was not theirs, it was the LORD’s, and they had to stand firm in obedience. They stood there in the dark with no weapons in their hands; they had the trumpets in their hands, which they blew, and lamps, which they held high, in their other hands. The enemy fled, and cried, fighting against themselves.
 
THOUGHT: “Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.”

PRAYER: (Use Psalm 86:11.)

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