Gideon Defeats the Midianites Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ “ So twenty-two thousand men left,while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say,‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths.All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others… During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up,go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp…. Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream... When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out,“Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” … 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.’” 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. 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!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. GOD IS ABLE!
Here are some thing we can face in our lives and learn from the nation of Israel and God's servant Gideon:
ISRAEL WAS OPPRESSED BY MIDIAN BECAUSE THEY HAD DONE “EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.” (Judges 6:1)
WHAT EVIL HAD THEY DONE?
- THEY WORSHIPED OTHER GODS.
- GOD WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED TO GIDEON.
- GOD IS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO.
- WHEN GIDEON TRUSTED THE LORD AND LET GOD WORK, THE ENEMY WAS DEFEATED.
- WHEN WE REALIZE WE CAN'T, WE FINALLY ARE READY TO SEE THAT GOD IS ABLE.
What sin do you find yourself committing over and over again?
What false gods do you find yourself worshipping?
Do you need to be reminded that God IS faithful?? Has God been somewhat slow answering your prayers? What is God trying to teach you during His silence?
Is there an area in your life where you just can't seem to trust God? Is it in an area of sin you keep failing in?
Respond to some of the questions and let's discuss things!
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