The Warrior

Inspirational

Judges 7:1–3 ESV

1 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.

How many would make you comfortable.

Not the kind of numbers reduction you would expect.

Why, would God do this?

Judges 7:4–8 ESV

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’s way is defiantly not our ways!

However we do see that, he knows human nature about taking credit!

Judges 7:9–11 ESV

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.

Judges 7:13–14 ESV

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.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 7

The circumstance of the cake, too, was very significant. Barley was usually the food of the poor, and of beasts; but most probably, from the widespread destruction of the crops by the invaders, multitudes must have been reduced to poor and scanty fare.

In this moment God allowed Gideon to hear of a dream that gave Gideon courage!

Judges 7:15 ESV

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.”

Isn’t it funny how we put more faith in the words of a man than the words of God!?

Long store made short Gideon with 300 men causes an entire army to scatter without any real effort!

Why wasn’t i invited to the party!!??

When the tribe of Ephriam was asked to help finish the purge than

Judges, Ruth C. Crushing the Enemy (7:16–25)

MAIN IDEA REVIEW: God took Gideon—and his men-through a systematic reduction in military power in order that a powerful truth might be proclaimed: “ ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (

MAIN IDEA REVIEW: God took Gideon—and his men-through a systematic reduction in military power in order that a powerful truth might be proclaimed: “ ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 4:6b). God alone provides victory, and God alone is due glory.

All you need is this math equation for victory.

“one plus GOD!”

Judges, Ruth Applications

Remember: one-plus-God is a majority—anytime, anywhere.

• God is extraordinarily patient with our fears and intimately aware of our concerns.

• God sees us differently than we see ourselves; those who are “in Christ” are eternal victors in his eyes.

• It is unwise to ascribe praise and glory to ourselves—every good thing in our lives (including our “natural” giftedness) is ultimately from God (Jas. 1:17).

• God is sovereign over all, including all enemies. Nothing touches us that has not first been sifted through his fingers.

James 1:17 ESV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.