287. GIDEON DELIVERS ISRAEL
"Why then is all this befallen us? and where be all His miracles"
In Isaiah 9:4 and 10:26 the wonderful victory of Gideon is set forth as typical of Christ's coming victory over the forces of men, for his victory revealed, not the strength of a fleshly army, but the great might of God. Gideon's army was comprised of a few from whom the faithless, the cowards and the rash had been removed. The remaining 300 men of faith smashed the mighty forces of the confederated army of Midianites and Amalekites resulting in the latter turning their weapons on the former.
The aim of this lesson will be to show that God can deliver from the greatest of perils provided we turn to Him in truth and complete trust.
Judges 6, 7 & 8
SIN BRINGS SUFFERING (Judges 6:1-10).
The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of Yahweh (v. 1) and He gave them up to the Midianites, the Amalekites and the "children of the east." These people swarmed over the border on their camels and ruthlessly dominated Israel, holding them in a thraldom of fear and terror. They were ruled by two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, in conjunction with two inferior princes € Oreb and Zeeb (meaning the "Raven" and the "Wolf").
A battle was apparently fought at Mt. Tabor in which Israel was defeated and Gideon's brothers slain (8:18), so that the hand of Midian prevailed (6:2). And now Israel was subjected to bitter oppression. Fire and sword spread terror on every hand. Pillage, massacre and murder drove the Israelites to take refuge in the numerous caves of the hills and in strongholds on hill tops. Their crops were eaten out by the invaders and their homes destroyed.
Why did they thus suffer? BECAUSE OF SIN. And all the suffering in the world is due to sin. It is an heritage that man has brought upon himself and the only thing to do under such circumstances is what they then did.
Faced with starvation and in a desperate plight, Israel turned to God. He sent a prophet who reminded the people of how they had turned from God and had disobeyed His voice. Thus he showed them the cause of all their sufferings. With characteristic human weakness they probably had blamed everything, and everybody but themselves.
THE CALL OF GIDEON (Judges 6:11-24).
God sent an angel to Gideon, the son of Joash. He was secretly threshing wheat in fear of the Midianites. The angel challenged him, "Yahweh is with thee, thou mighty man of valour". Gideon was quick to seize upon what appeared to be an inconsistency. He questioned God's care for Israel seeing they were under such oppression. But his question was brushed aside and he was commissioned to deliver Israel from the Midianites. What obstacles could there be if God was with him?
Nevertheless it was a tremendous task which Gideon had been given. The land was overwhelmed by the numerous and powerful enemy. Israel was fear-stricken and without means of waging war. No wonder Gideon requested a sign. It was given. Gideon had prepared a meal for the angel and placed it on a rock. The angel touched the food with his staff and instantly it was consumed by fire. It was only then that Gideon realised that he had "entertained an angel unawares" and he was filled with fear (Heb. 13:2). His attitude of doubt and despair was transformed into resolution and action. He was comforted with the assurance of Yahweh's peace, whereupon he built an altar and called it Yahweh-shalom (Yahweh is peace).
BAAL-WORSHIP OVERTHROWN (Judges 6:25-32).
But before Israel could be delivered from their enemies, Baal worship must be destroyed from the nation. In obedience to divine instructions (vv. 25-26), Gideon courageously took ten of his servants and overthrew the altar of Baal belonging to his father. He cut down the wooden image (called "a grove") that was erected by it, and, building an altar unto Yahweh, he used the wood of the image to burn the sacrifice he then offered.
He did this at night because the men of the village were Baal-worshippers. In the morning they demanded the life of Gideon but Joash, his father, replied, "If Baal be a god, let him plead for himself." Joash's belief in God had been restored by the courage and faith of his son, as had the spirit of the nation.
ISRAEL GATHERED (Judges 6:33-40).
All this did not go unnoticed by the Midianites. They could see in the action of Gideon and the spirit he was arousing in Israel, the seeds of revolt. They gathered a huge force together to check the revolt. Mean while Gideon had sent messengers through the tribes, and gradually (see vv. 34-35) the people were gathered unto him. In comparison to the number of the invaders, those gathered to Gideon were but few. He pleaded for another sign to show that God was indeed with him. The sign was given. As requested, when Gideon put out a fleece of wool one evening, he found the fleece wringing wet with dew, whilst the ground was dry roundabout. The sign was reversed on the following night. Gideon knew that God was with him.
GIDEON'S ARMY REDUCED TO 300 MEN (Judges 7:1-8).
Thirty-two thousand Israelites answered the call of Gideon (v. 3). They gathered in the valley of Jezreel by the well which was called Harod ( € trembling'') because of their fear.
They saw the huge force of well-armed Midianites, numbering 135,000 (8:10). They were ill-equipped and conscious of the power of the enemy. But God said that the forces of Israel were too large! Despite the inequality, Israel might attribute victory to themselves (7:2)! He called upon Gideon to remove those who were fearful and afraid (see Deut. 20:8). As a result only 10,000 remained.
Even so, that was too many. God's "strength is made perfect in weakness". Gideon was told to take them down to the well, and observe how they drank. Those who hastily put their heads to the water were told to stand on one side while those who calmly lifted it up in their hands, their eyes still on the lookout for the enemy, were put on the other side. The former, the rash, were now removed from the army. Gideon found himself at the head of a mere 300 men.
A DREAM OF VICTORY (Judges 7:9-15).
God commanded Gideon to go down at nightfall with Phurah his armour-bearer and view the host of Midian. Creeping stealthily down the valley, they came to the outskirts of the camp. Now the full strength of the enemy would be evident to Gideon. They "lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude". They symbolised the strength of the flesh. But when, under divine instruction, Gideon and his servant went near the enemy's camp at night, they heard two soldiers speaking together in their tent. One related to his fellow a dream. He saw a cake of barley bread tumble into the camp of Midian. Striking a tent, it turned it over. His companion replied: "This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host" (v. 14).
A barley loaf was a small thing to overturn the tent of Midian. Moreover barley was the food of the poor. The lesson was plain. In the sight of men, Israel compared unfavourably, but God's power would be magnified by human weakness. The interpretation of the dream also showed Gideon how greatly he was feared € he already had a psychological victory. Encouraged by this, he planned his strategy accordingly € a surprise attack.
THE VICTORY (Judges 7:16-25; 8:1-23).
Gideon divided his 300 men into three companies. He gave each man a trumpet and a torch covered with a pitcher. Spread out, they were able to encompass the whole of the forces of Midian. At midnight € the middle watch € as the sentries of Midian were being changed, they acted (v. 19). The Midianites were suddenly awakened by the shrill blast of trumpets, the crashing of 300 pitchers, the blaze of 300 torches and the shout, "The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon". Already troubled by omen and superstition, the enemy awoke in a panic. In the confusion of darkness, pandemonium broke out and they ran recklessly down the valley with every man's sword against his fellow. Meanwhile the 300 Israelites "stood every man in his place round the camp" (v. 21). Truly Yahweh "delivered into Gideon's hand the host of Midian" (v. 15).
Gideon had appealed to the tribe of Ephraim to assist him and now the Ephraimites gathered at the fords of Jordan to cut off the Midianites as they escaped. There the two princes Oreb and Zeeb were caught (vv. 24-25).
Fifteen thousand Midianites escaped under Zebah and Zalmunna their chiefs, and rested secure, far from the site of battle (8:10-11). They imagined that they had escaped the sword of Gideon, but with his faithful 300 men, Gideon, though faint, pursued them (8:4). Coming suddenly upon Zebah and Zalmunna, he completely destroyed the remnant.
He returned to punish those Israelites who had refused to assist him in the height of the campaign. The large tribe of Ephraim had shown jealousy for the success of Gideon, but he pacified them with a "soft answer that turned away their wrath" (8:1-2; Prov. 15:1). But the cities of Succoth and Penuel which had refused to succour Gideon's army in its time of need, because they doubted whether he would be successful and feared reprisal from Midian (vv. 5-9), he duly punished on his return (vv. 13-17; cp. Num. 33:55-56).
Gideon was requested by the grateful Israelites to be their king, but he refused, saying, "Yahweh shall rule over you." So it was that Israel had peace all the days of Gideon.
A TYPE OF YAHWEH JESUS CHRIST.
Gideon provides a wonderful illustration of the work of Yahweh Jesus (Isa. 9:4; 10:26). Here are some points: €
- His father's house was astray from God € so also was Israel in the days of Yahweh Jesus Christ.
- His name means, "A Great Warrior" € Yahweh Jesus is also styled "Mighty Warrior" (Isa. 9:6).
- He overthrew Baal worship € Yahweh Jesus will likewise overthrow all error (Rev. 18).
- He established again the worship of Yahweh € Yahweh Jesus will do likewise (Zech. 14:16).
- He removed from his followers all the faithless, the cowards and the rash € Yahweh Jesus will do likewise at the judgment seat (Rom.14:10).
With his followers he defeated the enemy of Israel without the use of carnal weapons € so will Yahweh Jesus at his second coming (Ezek. 38:19-22).
After the victory, he reproved and punished those Israelites who rejected him earlier € so also will Yahweh Jesus at his second coming (Zech. 12:10).
He became ruler (Judge) in Israel € so also will Yahweh Jesus at his second coming (Acts 17:31; Mic. 5:2).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ God's strength is made perfect in weakness". As God whittled down the size of Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300, all that Gideon could do was to rely more and more upon divine strength to overcome Israel's enemies.
€ The experiences of our own lives teach us that if we rely upon human strength, then our work will come to nothing. But if we seek God's help and trust in Him, we can overcome the difficulties of life.
As a preliminary to deliverance, God required that Gideon cut down the altar of Baal, just as idolatry in all its forms must be put aside by those who would seek God's help.
The defeat of Midian at the hand of Gideon is used by the prophet Isaiah as a type of the future work of Jesus Christ.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 21
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 3, No. 1, 2
"The Judges" (C.S.S.S. Study Notes)
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
What were the signs that God gave to Gideon to show that He would save Israel by his hand?
What lesson was God teaching when he cut down the size of Gideon's army?
How did Gideon's army of 300 overcome the combined armies of the Midianites and the Amalekites?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
- What are the great lessons in the preparation of Gideon and his army?
- Describe the way that Gideon's army was reduced in size. What does this teach us?
- How does the work of Gideon illustrate that of Yahweh Jesus Christ?