Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth–shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel–meholah, unto Tabbath.
And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan.
And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
Judges 7 tells the story of Gideon's improbable victory over the vast Midianite army. Following God's miraculous confirmations of his calling (Judges 6), Gideon prepares to engage the enemy. However, God's strategy is far from conventional, emphasizing that the victory belongs to Him, not to Israel's might. This chapter reveals God's power to work through the weak and unexpected, offering profound lessons for believers today.
Reducing the Ranks: God's Glory, Our Faith (Judges 7:1-8)
Gideon had gathered 32,000 Israelite soldiers, ready to confront the seemingly countless Midianites (Judges 6:5, 7:1). Yet, the Lord declares, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own might has saved me’" (Judges 7:2).
God's primary concern is His glory. He knows that a large Israelite army might attribute the victory to their strength, obscuring God's role. To prevent this, God instructs Gideon to dismiss those who are afraid (Deuteronomy 20:8). A staggering 22,000 men leave (Judges 7:3). But God wasn't done yet.
Even with 10,000 remaining, God deemed the number excessive. He directs Gideon to lead the men to a brook and observe how they drink. Those who lap the water like dogs, abandoning awareness of their surroundings, are separated from those who scoop the water with their hands, remaining alert (Judges 7:4-7). Scholars have debated the significance of this test. Perhaps it distinguished the less vigilant from those accustomed to pagan practices. Or maybe it was simply an efficient means to drastically reduce the force. Regardless, only 300 men pass the test. With this tiny band, God promises victory.
This passage underscores a crucial principle: God often chooses the weak and unlikely to accomplish His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). He wants us to rely on Him, not on our own abilities or resources. Sometimes, God will intentionally reduce our resources so that it is undeniable that any success comes from Him. Are we willing to trust God's unconventional methods, even when they seem illogical?
Encouragement in the Enemy Camp (Judges 7:9-15)
Despite God's promise, Gideon still receives another sign to bolster his courage. God instructs him to sneak into the Midianite camp with his servant Purah and listen to what is being said (Judges 7:9-11).
There, Gideon overhears a conversation between two Midianites. One recounts a dream of a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp and overturning a tent. The other interprets the dream as the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, an Israelite man. God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp (Judges 7:13-14). This divinely orchestrated eavesdropping provides Gideon with the reassurance he needs.
This passage reveals God's attentiveness to our fears and insecurities. He knows when we need a boost of encouragement and often provides it in unexpected ways. Like Gideon, we should be open to receiving encouragement, even from unlikely sources.
Upon hearing this confirmation, Gideon "worshiped" (Judges 7:15). His response is instructive. He doesn't boast or become arrogant. Instead, he acknowledges God's faithfulness and bows in humble adoration. True encouragement leads to worship and renewed commitment to God's will.
The Battle Plan: Trumpets, Torches, and Triumph (Judges 7:16-25)
Empowered by faith, Gideon returns to his 300 men and unveils his battle plan. He divides them into three companies, each armed with a trumpet, a torch concealed in a clay jar, and a battle cry: "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:16-18, 20).
Under the cover of darkness, Gideon and his men surround the Midianite camp. At Gideon's signal, they simultaneously blow their trumpets, smash their jars, and raise their torches, creating a deafening noise and a dazzling display of light. The Midianites, caught completely off guard, are thrown into utter chaos. Believing they are surrounded by a much larger force, they panic and turn on each other (Judges 7:19-22).
God orchestrates confusion among the enemy, causing them to fight against one another. The Midianites flee in disarray, attempting to escape across the Jordan River. Gideon summons the men of Israel, particularly the tribe of Ephraim, to pursue the fleeing enemy (Judges 7:23-24). The Ephraimites capture the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Midianites' escape and killing two of their princes, Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:24-25).
This passage highlights the power of faith-filled obedience. Gideon and his men followed God's instructions, even when they seemed absurd. Their obedience, combined with God's intervention, resulted in a resounding victory. God works through the people of God in the midst of dark circumstances. It doesn’t matter how big your “enemy” is.
Judges 7 teaches us that God's ways are often not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He delights in using the weak, the foolish, and the unexpected to accomplish His purposes. When we trust in Him and obey His commands, we can experience His power and see Him work miracles in our lives. Like Gideon, we must be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God will fight for us and bring victory, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Let the church take notice. Even when we don’t understand things and think the odds are against us, God calls us to do what he says—individually and collectively—and then watch him work.
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth–shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel–meholah, unto Tabbath.
And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan.
And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
Judges 7 tells the story of Gideon's improbable victory over the vast Midianite army. Following God's miraculous confirmations of his calling (Judges 6), Gideon prepares to engage the enemy. However, God's strategy is far from conventional, emphasizing that the victory belongs to Him, not to Israel's might. This chapter reveals God's power to work through the weak and unexpected, offering profound lessons for believers today.
Reducing the Ranks: God's Glory, Our Faith (Judges 7:1-8)
Gideon had gathered 32,000 Israelite soldiers, ready to confront the seemingly countless Midianites (Judges 6:5, 7:1). Yet, the Lord declares, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own might has saved me’" (Judges 7:2).
God's primary concern is His glory. He knows that a large Israelite army might attribute the victory to their strength, obscuring God's role. To prevent this, God instructs Gideon to dismiss those who are afraid (Deuteronomy 20:8). A staggering 22,000 men leave (Judges 7:3). But God wasn't done yet.
Even with 10,000 remaining, God deemed the number excessive. He directs Gideon to lead the men to a brook and observe how they drink. Those who lap the water like dogs, abandoning awareness of their surroundings, are separated from those who scoop the water with their hands, remaining alert (Judges 7:4-7). Scholars have debated the significance of this test. Perhaps it distinguished the less vigilant from those accustomed to pagan practices. Or maybe it was simply an efficient means to drastically reduce the force. Regardless, only 300 men pass the test. With this tiny band, God promises victory.
This passage underscores a crucial principle: God often chooses the weak and unlikely to accomplish His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). He wants us to rely on Him, not on our own abilities or resources. Sometimes, God will intentionally reduce our resources so that it is undeniable that any success comes from Him. Are we willing to trust God's unconventional methods, even when they seem illogical?
Encouragement in the Enemy Camp (Judges 7:9-15)
Despite God's promise, Gideon still receives another sign to bolster his courage. God instructs him to sneak into the Midianite camp with his servant Purah and listen to what is being said (Judges 7:9-11).
There, Gideon overhears a conversation between two Midianites. One recounts a dream of a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp and overturning a tent. The other interprets the dream as the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, an Israelite man. God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp (Judges 7:13-14). This divinely orchestrated eavesdropping provides Gideon with the reassurance he needs.
This passage reveals God's attentiveness to our fears and insecurities. He knows when we need a boost of encouragement and often provides it in unexpected ways. Like Gideon, we should be open to receiving encouragement, even from unlikely sources.
Upon hearing this confirmation, Gideon "worshiped" (Judges 7:15). His response is instructive. He doesn't boast or become arrogant. Instead, he acknowledges God's faithfulness and bows in humble adoration. True encouragement leads to worship and renewed commitment to God's will.
The Battle Plan: Trumpets, Torches, and Triumph (Judges 7:16-25)
Empowered by faith, Gideon returns to his 300 men and unveils his battle plan. He divides them into three companies, each armed with a trumpet, a torch concealed in a clay jar, and a battle cry: "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:16-18, 20).
Under the cover of darkness, Gideon and his men surround the Midianite camp. At Gideon's signal, they simultaneously blow their trumpets, smash their jars, and raise their torches, creating a deafening noise and a dazzling display of light. The Midianites, caught completely off guard, are thrown into utter chaos. Believing they are surrounded by a much larger force, they panic and turn on each other (Judges 7:19-22).
God orchestrates confusion among the enemy, causing them to fight against one another. The Midianites flee in disarray, attempting to escape across the Jordan River. Gideon summons the men of Israel, particularly the tribe of Ephraim, to pursue the fleeing enemy (Judges 7:23-24). The Ephraimites capture the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Midianites' escape and killing two of their princes, Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:24-25).
This passage highlights the power of faith-filled obedience. Gideon and his men followed God's instructions, even when they seemed absurd. Their obedience, combined with God's intervention, resulted in a resounding victory. God works through the people of God in the midst of dark circumstances. It doesn’t matter how big your “enemy” is.
Judges 7 teaches us that God's ways are often not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He delights in using the weak, the foolish, and the unexpected to accomplish His purposes. When we trust in Him and obey His commands, we can experience His power and see Him work miracles in our lives. Like Gideon, we must be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God will fight for us and bring victory, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Let the church take notice. Even when we don’t understand things and think the odds are against us, God calls us to do what he says—individually and collectively—and then watch him work.