Sunday July 6, 2025 Gideon God’s Strength in Our Weakness Judges 7

Many movies have a common theme of a person with a low view of themselves embarking on an adventure where they are required to hide their true identity for fear of being rejected by others.

Invariably, the hero is put in a position where they are exposed and suffer some sort of public shame. The hero’s character arc is usually resolved by the hero coming to realize that they are worthy in an of themselves. The moral of the story being, “be yourself.”

Hidden within this kind of story is still an obsession with conforming to particular character traits like bravery, self-confidence, and the like. The focus is on recognizing one’s own innate greatness and finding success.

· But the Bible and the Christian worldview are opposed to this kind of thinking.

· Through the story of Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites, we will see that it has never been about what we bring to the table that makes us great, but the great God who works in and through us to accomplish His will.

· Today, we will discover what a godly view of human usefulness is and what kind of character traits are actually pleasing in God’s sight.

· And so it is fitting that the title of today’s message is Gideon: God’s Strength in Our Weakness.

· Israel is suffering at the hands of Midian.

o They, along with the Amalekites and the People of the East, engage in yearly raiding into Israel, stealing and destroying all that they can find.

· God confronted Israel through a prophet and indicted them for their continued idolatry and unfaithfulness.

· Nevertheless, He remains faithful to his covenant promises and people and raises up a new judge named Gideon.

· Gideon was an interesting choice: He is fearful and doubtful of God’s calling, yet He obeys God in confronting Israel’s idolatry.

o He destroys an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole, gaining a new name for himself: Jerubbaal (Baal will contend with him).

· So, as we re-enter the story, Midian is back on its yearly raiding path (v. 33).

· This time, however, God has raised up a deliverer.

o Gideon is strengthened and equipped for the work by being clothed by God’s Holy Spirit (v. 34).

· Gideon calls out the men of Israel to confront their enemies, and 32,000 men answer the call by the time we come to the climactic event of Gideon’s story.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dewon the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the groundlet there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

· Gideon may have been preserved from harm in tearing down the altar of Baal, and he is clothed in the Holy Spirit, yet Gideon is still Gideon.

o He is fearful of the scope of task he is expected to do.

o He is still wrestling with doubts.

· This is something that often runs counter to the way we learn about Gideon as children in Sunday school…we focus on the courageous victory and not the man behind it.

o Gideon has everything he needs, but he struggles to use it.

· Gideon tests God to try and overcome his doubts.

o Gideon knows what God has said, but he struggles to believe it.

· So, Gideon asks God for a sign…that God really meant what he said.

· In the face of Gideon’s doubts, we see God’s wonderful character on display.

· God comforts Gideon by doing what he asks and confirming that He will indeed do what He promised.

· He doesn’t reject, rebuke, or ridicule Gideon for his weakness, but freely gives exactly what Gideon needs until he is strengthened.

· This shows us something important about the unchanging character of God…his willingness to accommodate our weakness.

· We find it perhaps easy to believe and acknowledge that God loves us…We hear it all the time.

o The harder thing, I think, to reckon with is the idea that God actually likes us.

§ He doesn’t just put up with me in my weakness and frailty; He actively wants good for me and is in my corner.

He knows our weakness and He loves us anyway.

· Psalm 103:13–14 (ESV)

Psalm 103:13–14 ESV

13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lordshows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

“He is not so strict as to be harsh when we tremble; he does not ridicule us for our fears; He never mocks us because we are fragile.” –Dale Ralph Davis

· God encourages through ordinary means of grace; great gifts that He bestows on all His children.

o The Word.

§ The Scripture leads us into all truth, as Paul counseled Timothy.

· 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

§ The Scripture also points us to the greatest sign of all…the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

o The Holy Spirit.

§ Through the ministry of His Holy Spirit in us, God encourages us that we are sealed for Him until the day He returns.

· Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

o Prayer.

§ Through prayer, God gives us peace and comfort that we are beloved and pleasing in His sight because of Jesus Christ and not because of anything we do or don’t do.

· Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

7 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.

2 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.’ 3 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.

4 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.” 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.

· God has remained faithful in meeting Gideon’s needs, such that when Gideon rises, the Scripture says that it is Jerubbaal who rises.

o But God has lessons to teach Gideon and Israel.

· He wants to make sure that Israel knows the significance of the victory He is bringing to them.

o He wants them to know that He is the one who fights for them.

· One of the major themes of the Old Testament is that God condescends (stoops down) to fight for and deliver His people from their enemies.

o One example of this is found in the consistent way that He speaks about the relationship between Himself and Israel:

· Exodus 20:2 (ESV)

Exodus 20:2 ESV

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

· Exodus 15:3 (ESV)

Exodus 15:3 ESV

3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.

· He will deliver Israel, but He knows that there is a problem with Israel as she stands presently.

o Israel has an idolatry problem.

§ She loves and serves other gods, yes. But she also loves herself too much.

· God knows that if the 32,000 men encamped with Gideon go on to victory, no matter how mightily God does it, they will find a way to rationalize it to make themselves look good.

o They will say, “Wow! I guess I had it in me all the time.”

o We are all prone to mistake the instruments of God’s works with the agent of that work.

· The lord graciously moves to protect Israel from their own sinfulness by decreasing the size of the army.

o First, the lord uses the practice he established in Deuteronomy 20.

· Deuteronomy 20:1–4 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 ESV

1 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

1 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

o To this end, there are many reasons that men may be excused from going to battle.

§ One very important one had to do with morale.

· Deuteronomy 20:8 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 20:8 ESV

8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’

§ Fear is a morale killer, and so God made an accommodation for those who cannot master their fear.

· Surely the morale of the Israelite army and Gideon was not helped by the fact that 70% of the army walked away in that very moment.

o Before, they were at a numerical disadvantage (32,000 vs 150,000/ a little more than 5:1)

o Now they were reduced to 10,000 (15:1).

o The job was looking harder…and this was God’s plan.

· But Gideon had tested God twice, and God was about to return the favor.

· The test at the waters of Harod, I think, is misunderstood.

o Too many focus on what may be known about the men who lapped like dogs versus the men who knelt.

§ This misses the point of the test.

· God’s intention was to protect Israel from its own high view of itself by proving beyond any justifiable doubt that He was the real deliver of Israel.

§ The reason why the 300 men who lapped like dogs was not because they possessed some special watchfulness, skill, or courage.

· They were no more remarkable than Gideon was, and almost assuredly just as doubtful in the face of a now 99% decrease in forces.

· The 300 men were designed to show how weak Israel, and how needful they were for God.

· The most valuable character trait that we can develop in Christian life is a humble dependence upon the power of God.

o The Scripture tells us that we are sinners, fit only for judgment.

o But it also tells us that while we were yet sinners (enemies of God), God sent His Son Jesus to die for us, so that we should be justified in his sight.

o It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are clothed in righteousness and strength to obey.

· So, it is the height of folly for us to be the recipients of such gracious gifts and then to think that we can serve God in our own strength and skill.

· Galatians 3:1–7 (ESV)

Galatians 3:1–7 ESV

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

The Lord insists that we recognize our weakness and be reduced to our true level of helplessness so that we will trust in Him alone to deliver.

9 That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. 11 And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. 13 When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” 14 And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.”

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 Lordhas given the host of Midian into your hand.”

· God now turns to Gideon on the eve of battle and tells him to arise and take the enemy camp.

o In light of the impossibility according to numbers, Gideon is left with no other choice but to trust God, and even with the clothing of the Holy Spirit, and the double sign, Gideon is still struggling.

· Graciously, God gives Gideon an opportunity to confront his fears and be strengthened.

o He can go with a friend down to the camp in the night and receive the strength God has for him there.

· The text takes a moment to give us a picture of what Gideon is facing.

o The army of the Midianites is so vast that it is described in terms of a plague of locusts, with untold numbers of camels and that they were like sand on the seashore.

o This reinforces to Gideon and the reader how impossible this task is for Gideon to accomplish. Yes, the problem really is as big as he thinks it is.

· But when he comes to the camp, he comes to hear something astounding.

o The Midianites were speaking to each other around the camp, and they were terrified.

§ They have believed the very thing that Gideon has struggled with and doubted.

o They had heard of Gideon, who had stood against the Baals and the Asherim and emerged untouched.

§ They recognized that Gideon was empowered by the God of Israel.

§ Their hearts had melted within them.

§ This massive army was already defeated; they were just awaiting the fall.

§ This account echoes the testimony of Rahab of Jericho in the days of Joshua:

· Joshua 2:9–11 (ESV)

Joshua 2:9–11 ESV

9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

· Gideon was so encouraged, so strengthened at the news that his fear was transformed into worship.

o The only right response to the great works of God in our lives is worship.

· Psalm 77:12–14 (ESV)

Psalm 77:12–14 ESV

12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

· So, in light of God’s promises, be confident.

· Be obedient in following him.

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 Lordand 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 Lordset 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.

· Gideon’s battleplan shows a great deal of ingenuity.

o It relies on darkness, misdirection, psychology, and no small amount of bravery.

o It highlights that Israel is placing their trust in the lord to deliver a victory as in the days of Jericho.

o The men carry no weapons, and no defenses, it is not by might of arms that Israel will win a victory.

§ They are outnumbered 450:1.

§ If the Midianites come to understand how small the force facing them numbers, Israel will face certain defeat.

· They approach the enemy camp at the change of watch in the middle of the night.

o Gideon’s timing is impeccable…the enemy army will be at its most vulnerable.

§ Nevertheless, the plan is folly from a human perspective. 300 men cannot fully encircle such a vast camp that covers the mountain and falls into the valley.

· When the battle begins, and at the blowing of the horns of Gideon and his 300, it becomes clear that the enemy had already fallen long before this moment.

o For the Israelites needed do nothing else but stand still as the enemy ran, cried out, and fled the camp.

§ Moses had given this kind of encouragement to Israel as they stood between Pharaoh and his army, and the Red Sea.

· Exodus 14:13–14 (ESV)

Exodus 14:13–14 ESV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

§ On that day, it was the lord who overthrew Pharoah entirely. Today it would be the same.

· The Israelites watch as the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the People of the East slaughter each other in terror, confusion and darkness.

· This is made clear in verse 22, “The lord had turned every man’s sword against his brother.”

· Jeremiah 20:11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 20:11 ESV

11 But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.

· The Lord god of Israel delivered His people that day and Israel need only to watch.

· Salvation is by the grace of God alone, through faith in Christ alone.

· Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

· Titus 3:5 (ESV)

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

· Our Great High Priest can save to the uttermost.

· Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

· One day, the enemies of God and His people will arise once again in great numbers, and they will come upon the camp of the saints of God.

o And on that day, we to will bear witness to what the Lord Jesus can do, as John relays in His vision.

· Revelation 20:7–10 (ESV)

Revelation 20:7–10 ESV

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

o Complete victory in the Lord alone, and we will have a front row seat.

· Whose arm do you trust to save you?

· We usually laud Christians who appear to be strong: dynamic, assured, confident.

o Possible brash, fearless, witty, adventurous, or glamorous.

· But Scripture gives us a different example to follow.

o Paul set the pattern when he came to Corinth.

· 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

· What God requires of us is not greatness, but weakness.

o In not being free of fears and doubts, but trusting in God and taking steps forward in faithful obedience.

§ For then, we will see God move in amazing ways; ways we could not have seen if we continued to trust in our own ability.

· Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

· The call to follow Jesus Christ is a call to be courageous.

o Feeling fear and choosing to trust God anyway.

· Isaiah 12:2–5 (ESV)

Isaiah 12:2–5 ESV

2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord Godis my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

Sunday July 6, 2025 Gideon God’s Strength in Our Weakness Judges 7

Introduction

Recap and Context

God Encourages Our Weak Faith (6:36-40)

God Refines Us Through Weakness (7:1-8)

Humility, supplication, and dependence.

God Gives Assurance for Our Doubts (7:9-15)

God Delivers Us Unilaterally (7:16-22)

Conclusion