The stage was set by God. The Midianites, Amalekites and people of the east were God's tool of judgment brought upon His apostate people. They came together and encamped in the valley of Jezreel (6:33). The Spirit of the Lord had come upon Gideon; he blew the trumpet and the people came to follow him. Unfortunately, Gideon got squeamish and needed a couple signs from the Lord. Some scholars see the fleece requests as nothing short of pagan divination. It is also worth noting here that the scriptures tell us repeatedly that Yahweh spoke to Gideon, yet Gideon spoke to God by calling Him Elohim, a general name, instead of the personal, covenantal name. If the Lord was weary at Gideon's timidity and lack of faith, we don't see it. The work He was doing was for all His people; this took precedent over Gideon's failings.
Judges 7:1-3
Gideon's father had given him a new name (6:32) when he stepped forward and stood on his behalf against the towns people who wanted to kill him for tearing down the altar of Baal. His defense was that Baal should take care of himself. Therefore, Gideon was named Jerubaal; meaning, "Baal will deal with you!" How interesting that the narrator chose to refer to him as Jerubaal here. Is this a indicating the source of his fear and faltering faith was a fear that Baal would get him?
We see two kinds of fear in play in this section of scripture. First, we see the fear that wells up in us over time, the product of worry and fretting, of finding the worst possible outcome and dwelling on it.
When worry invades a person's mind, it can send the brain into a kind of spasm. It's like a lock that is unable to relax and accept anything that is good or positive. All it sees is the negative. And it's not just a fleeting thought, but something that seems encased in cement.
Have you ever had a muscle in a cramp, and you can't get rid of it? One author describes it this way: The mind of the worrier, in an effort to anticipate danger or stave off some bad outcome, has gone into a spasm, a lock that can't relax and accept good news. The mind can't let go of the matter at hand and can't see it in any but a negative way. Hours, whole days, weeks, or even years can be poisoned by ruminating on a single fear, one predominating worry.
Wright, H. N. (2021). How to keep your brain young: strategies for staying fit, flexible, and curious (p. 106). Harvest House Publishers.]
Second, and later in this passage, we see the instant fear that causes a response. This fear shuts off the thinking and reasoning part of our brain. Logic doesn't matter; our ability to analyze is disabled. One part of our brain takes over all function tells the rest of us to do one of four things: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Brave words, courageous talk and best intentions have nothing to do with it. When the brain is overwhelmed, it responds. The only thing that can altar this response is to have a renewed mind in the Lord.
All the people who jointed with Gideon rose early and staged themselves at the well of Harod, which means 'trembling.' Thirty-two thousand soldiers joined him along the base of the north slope of Mt. Gilboa. The Midianites were north of them by the hill of Moreh. They were now facing off. We can imagine the tension of impending war; the fear of death or severe injury and suffering entered the mind of everyone there. Gideon's conversation with the Lord continues with no indication the Lord is visible or how he is hearing the Lord. However, I can imagine that Gideon said, "Excuse me, could you repeat that?" when he heard the Lord say there were too many of them. The Lord knew the hearts of His children. If they went out to war with a large force and the Lord gave them the promised victory, they would credit their military prowess, their superior strategy and bold leadership. Their ability to forget the Lord was not just their flaw, but a human one that thrives on today. The Lord made the first cut near the spring of trembling. He sent away all who are fearful or afraid, totaling twenty-two thousand. I suppose there were more who wouldn't admit it. Gideon, being fearful, must have at least wondered if he could go with them. Ten-thousand remained, still a sizable force.
Judges 7:4-8
Once again, the Lord said to Gideon the army was too large. How was this possible? The Midianite camp was vast, countless. Had the Lord not seen? Gideon brought them to the water for the Lord's test. The ten-thousand were separated by how they drank the water. Three hundred lapped at the water, putting their hand to the mouth; the remainder got down on their knees and put their face to the water. The Lord said He would use the three hundred to deliver the Midianites into Gideon's hand. All the others were released to go.
The commentators make much about the method of separating the three-hundred. Some see these men as more alert, fighting men who wouldn't take their watchful eye from the horizon to drink, instead they brought the water to their mouth. This sounds good, but isn't this counter to what the Lord was trying to do? The Lord was removing all of the nation's ability to take any credit. Would it not be better if the Lord took the least alert, the guys that kept dropping their sword or tripping over their shoe laces? Isn't it the Lord's best work when there is no other hope but a move of God? Then ins spite of the bumbling efforts of men, the Lord delivers victory.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. (NKJV; 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
The Lord equipped his 300; each a clay pot, a trumpet and weapon. This probably didn't include any food since we see them seeking food later.
Judges 7:9-12
The Lord continued to speak to Gideon. In the dark of the night, the fear of the army he faced became an epic invasion of his mind conquering faith and courage, replacing them with darkness and fear. The Lord said, "Go!" The Israelites had been vastly outnumbered when they were 32,000 against 135,000 Midianites (see 8:10). Now there were only 300. The math kept Jerubaal up all night wondering, even though he didn't know the real numbers. What he saw was a vast array of army sprawled across the valley. They were numerous as locusts with camels without number. A multitude comparable to sand on the seashore. The impossibility of it all was obvious, each man would have to kill his thousands. In the dark of the night its easy to forget that 300 plus God conquers anything. Only God could pull this off and that's what God wanted.
Once again God made an allowance for the weakness of His judge. The Lord gave him the option to go down and listen, "if you are afraid." The enemy camp was close by. They must have looked a thousand times larger by the light of their camp fires. The Lord told Gideon to go down to the camp with Purah on a mission to listen to what they say. This man was his servant, armor bearer and probably the one who knew him best. Gideon's fate was his fate.
Judges 7:13-14
Purah and Gideon snuck down close enough to hear the soldiers talking. It was the shift change of the guards; the outgoing tired and inattentive, the incoming not settled in yet. A soldier was telling another man his dream. Dreams were considered omens to them, serious business, not to be taken lightly. This must have struck Gideon as odd that the men in the camp of great numbers might also be experiencing fears in the dark of the night. This sounds like a dream doesn't it; a loaf of bread rolls down a hill and strikes a tent causing it to collapse. The meaning seemed very obvious to the companion; no dream interpreter needed her. The sword of Gideon was coming. The Lord had given the man a dream, or maybe many of them. He planted fear in their hearts and an idea that the sword of Gideon was coming down the hill to strike them. This idea must have spread through the ranks, each man telling ten, a raging wildfire of fear. The Lord was managing their rumor mill. Every battle is first fought on the beachhead of the heart and mind. Gideon had been stripped of the things men of which men find confidence; but the Lord offered Himself as the source of all confidence. The invading army had everything they needed to be confident in victory; except, the Lord took from them their courage and invaded them with fear. The unseen Lord had provided confidence for Gideon while the unseen dream stripped the Midianites.
This mission into the enemy camps is mindful of another:
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." (NKJV; 1 Samuel 14:6; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
We just thought the stage and been set previously. Now it was set for the Glory of God. The Lord gave a glimpse behind the scenes to see His work. Gideon must still have been somewhat afraid, who wouldn't be. But the Lord had gone to great lengths. Our faith is tested when we stand before what our eyes believe to be the impossible. God gave a command, but it was in His permissive will that Gideon could hear this message of encouragement. Only God can use the mouth of the enemy to encourage the opposition. God had given Gideon a reputation as a mighty man of valor while he was still quivering with fear.
Gideon used his fleece to bolster his confidence even after God had given him His word of victory. God allowed it, but countered with pairing down the thirty-two thousand men to just five hundred. The Lord would not allow Gideon to go to battle trusting anything but His word. Then, to acquiesce his fear, the Lord delivered His promise to him once again by way of a Midianite soldier's dream. God will have His way.
Judges 7:15-18
Gideon worshiped the Lord. He was encouraged and empowered. He returned to the camp, with the confidence of a mighty man. He woke up his army and readied them for battle. Imagine the meeting they had as Gideon divided them into 3 groups and gave them trumpets, pitchers and torches. Where were the swords and shields? How could they defeat the Midianites with these strange weapons? Normally a small contingent would bring torches to light the battlefield, prevent escape. And normally, just a few would carry a trumpet. Swords and shields were far more important in a normal battle.
Gideon is now acting like a courageous leader when he told the others to do what he did. It still must've sounded crazy. The battle cry he gave them is telling, giving glory to Yahweh for the battle.
Judges 7:19-22
The battle was on. On one side 135,000 armed soldiers from an invading coalition. On the other, 300 men who on some level were believed the Lord. They carried torches in jars and a trumpet. Nothing is said of any weapons. Their weapon was the Lord and the fear that resided in heart of the individuals of the 135,000. Gideon and the hundred with him were first to break their pitchers and blow the trumpet. The others followed, giving the appearance of being surrounded. It was the math of fear, provided by God; each torch represented a fighting force, each trumpet reinforced the thought. When they heard the enemy yell "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" it seemed to them the rumor around the camp had come true. They were convinced they were surrounded by a fast army. Panic ensued. It was a work of the Lord setting every man's sword against his companion. In the dark and panic, every man was for himself. Anyone appearing as a threat was killed. The Midianites essentially defeat themselves. The army fled. The coalition disbanded; it was every man for himself.
Judges 7:23-25
The tribes that had followed Gideon began to pursue the Midianites. Messengers were sent ahead of the Midianites to Ephraim. The instruction was to cut them off, form a blockade to keep them from crossing the Jordan. They captured two Midianite princes; Oreb and Zeeb. The rock upon which Oreb was killed was named as such; the winepress of Zeeb was named after he was killed there. The heads of these men were brought to Gideon.
It is worth noting that Gideon's call as God's tool of delivery came at a similar rock and winepress. Gideon offered a sacrifice on a stone that had previously been the foundation of an altar to Baal. The winepress we saw previously had been the threshing floor and hiding placed. There would be no more hiding.
The story of Gideon started with an encounter with the Lord at the winepress as Gideon was cowering in fear. The Lord moved him to destroy the apostate altar and worship the Lord with a burnt offering. The Lord said he would use him, to his dismay and disbelief. The Lord brought him to a place where his work was confirmed by the enemy's dream, he responded in worship. He finally surrendered himself to the work he was called to. Now this warrior has allowed God to work through him and deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites. The capture of the two princes marks the end of the Midianite oppression. The head of his enemies were presented to him.
The light of God will shine when the vessel is broken.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
(NKJV; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
(NKJV; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1982, Thomas Nelson)
Our own pride and fears must be broken. Our understanding and ways must yield to the Lord in obedience. Then the Lord can do a mighty work through us and with us. We all carry the light and it's a greater weapon than any weapon of the world.
© 2015, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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