In the last three weeks I have heard the name of Gideon. Most of us reading this blog have read the story in these two chapters and our hearts have been moved. Several times reading this story I have been moved to tears. We are all suckers for the underdogs and Gideon is the poster child for underdogs. This passage of Scripture is about how powerful our God is any situation. Three hundred men led by Gideon defeat the army’s of Midian. You can read the culmination of this underdog saga below:
15 As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has given the host of Midian into your hand.” 16 And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” 19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. 22 When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. 25 And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan. (Judges 17:15-25 [ESV])
Only God could take 300 men and defeat an army of 135,000. I really can’t wrap my head around those odds.
How about you? Do you have enemies in your life God is just waiting to conquer? Have you been hiding in a “safe” place like Gideon was when we first meet him in chapter 16? Trust God to be your deliverer. And He hill defeat that enemy!
Today we have seen the power of prayer many reports coming back of answers to our prayers. We have brothers and sisters in Christ serving faithfully in the face of a larger enemy than Midian. Let’s join together in prayer for them and for us as we see God defeat the enemies in our lives.
Father God we pray for rescue and freedom in You. I pray for each person reading this today that you would free them from the bondage that has them running scared. I also prayer for Your safety for our brothers and sisters valiantly serving you in a very difficult situation. I pray these things in the Lord of Hosts – our Savior – Jesus, Amen
Sixty-six books in a year 