God's Test

The 1980’s miracle on Ice is a big moment in our national pride. When the US hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviets 4-3, it was a national victory. While you are familiar with the game, you may not be as familiar with the coach who propelled his team to accomplish this feat. Coach Herb Brooks was the man tasked by the USOC to be the Soviets. Brooks had a very specific type of player he wanted for that team. The summer before the Olympics the U.S olympic committee invited some of the best hockey players in the U.S to try out for this hockey team who would eventually go on to beat the Soviets. After one day of tryouts coach Brooks would hand the USOC a list of people who weren’t going to make the team. Members of the USOC would be outraged by the list. They objected saying “Herb, some of the best players are on this list!!” You don’t want the best players available on your team? Herb Brooks famously replied saying “I’m not looking for the best players, I’m looking for the right ones. Herb Brooks was looking for players with specific characteristics, and players he believed would buy into his vision. We’re going to see a similar theme in our passage of scripture today. Gideon is going to get a look at his army that he is supposed to defeat the Midianites with. The army is large and filled with many great warriors. However Gideon was soon going to learn that God was interested in the best warriors, he was interested in the right ones

1. READ Judges 7:1-8

Judges 7:1–8 ESV

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ ” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

The passage starts off well for Gideon. He might not consider himself to be a great warrior, but at least he could take comfort in the fact that he is surrounded by 32,000 great warriors. However God is going to force Gideon to take yet another step out of his comfort zone.”Gideon, you’ve got too many people.Tell everyone who is scared they are free to leave,” and 22,000 of the 32,000 men left. This left Gideon with 10,000 men. Gideon probably wasn’t feeling as confident. However God wasn’t finished. Yet again God told Gideon he had too many men. So God commanded Gideon to have his men drink water from a stream. The ones who put their faces in the water and drink like dogs were to be dismissed. While the men who kneeled while drinking water were to be kept, and 300 men of the 10,000 knelt down and drank from the stream. Gideon started with 32,000 warriors, now all of a sudden he was 300! Why did God do this? Wouldn’t it be better for Gideon to have as many people as possible? There are a few reasons why God dwindled Gideon's army down.

Characteristics God first told Gideon to dismiss those who were given to fear and afraid of fighting the Midianites. God didn’t want Gideon to have an army of fearful people. Most people left after Gideon told anyone who was afraid to leave.

Second God told Gideon to dismiss all the men who were not alert and ready. The men who were dismissed just threw their heads into the water, they put themselves in a position of vulnerability. They can’t observe or be aware of their surroundings. However the men who knelt could keep an eye on their surroundings, they could remain alert, they did not put themselves in a vulnerable position. The men who remained had all the characteristics God wanted, they weren’t given to fear, and they conducted themselves to being alert and ready

2. These characteristics aren’t insignificant by the way. Jesus expects his followers to also not be given to fear, and to be alert and ready. In Mark chapter 4 we see the story where Jesus calms the storm. Jesus was sleeping while the storm raged on, the disciples woke him up. Why did the disciples wake Jesus up? They feared for their lives. Jesus calms the storm, and what does he ask his disciples? Why are you still afraid? Do you still have no faith? Jesus also speaks of the importance of his followers being alert and ready. In Matthew 24:44 Jesus tells his followers to be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. We must remain aware of our surroundings, and vigilant in keeping an eye out. God expected this of Gideon's soldiers as well, to be vigilant and alert and aware.

3. We’ve discussed the characteristics God wanted out of his men, now let’s discuss the vision that God wanted Gideon and his men to buy into. Notice the main reason why God had Gideon dismiss so many men. God knew that Gideon and his army would get credit if Gideon had all those men. God wanted the credit for his upcoming victory. He expected Gideon and his men to buy into that, to acknowledge and proclaim that to God be the glory. Rather than giving Gideon 32,000 men to defeat the Midianites, God gave him 300 of the right men for the Job. God did this so there could be no doubt that it was God who brought the people of Israel this victory.

Conclusion: So how do we apply this story to our own lives. We must understand that God wants the credit. Ephesians 2:10 says this

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God prepared good works for you to do (loving family, loving wife, loving neighbor, serving one another)Doing these good works are examples of worship of God, and he wants credit when you walk within these good works. Just as God wanted credit for handing Gideon a victory against the Midianites.