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"An Uncommon Outcome" by John M. Nielson
Judges 7:15 When Gid‘on heard the dream and its interpretation, he fell on his knees in worship. Then he returned to the camp of Isra’el and said, “Get up! because Adonai has handed Midyan’s army over to you.” 16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He put in the hands of all of them shofars and empty pitchers with torches in them. 17 Then he said to them, “Watch me, and do what I do. When I get to the edge of the camp, whatever I do, you do the same. 18 When I and everyone with me blow the shofar, then you blow your shofars all around the whole camp, and shout, “For Adonai and for Gid‘on!”
19 Gid‘on and the hundred men with him arrived at the edge of the camp a little before midnight, just after they had changed the guard. They blew the shofars and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 All three companies blew the shofars, broke the pitchers and held the torches in their left hands, keeping their right hands free for the shofars they were blowing; and they shouted, “The sword for Adonai and for Gid‘on!” 21 Then, as every man stood still in place around the camp, the whole camp was thrown into panic, with everyone screaming and trying to escape. 22 Gid‘on’s men blew their 300 shofars, and Adonai caused everyone in the camp to attack his comrades; and the enemy fled beyond Beit-Sheetah near Tz’rerah, as far as the border of Avel-M’cholah, by Tabat.
23 Then men of Isra’el were summoned from Naftali, Asher, and both regions of M’nasheh; and they pursued Midyan. 24 Gid‘on sent messengers through all the hills of Efrayim, with the message, “Come down and attack Midyan; and capture the rivers before they get there, as far as Beit-Barah, and also the Yarden.” So all the men of Efrayim came together and seized the rivers as far as Beit-Barah and the Yarden. 25 They also captured two chiefs of Midyan, ‘Orev and Ze’ev. They put ‘Orev to death at the Rock of ‘Orev and Ze’ev at Ze’ev’s Winepress; then, as they kept pursuing Midyan, they brought the heads of Orev and Ze’ev to Gid‘on, who had crossed to the far side of the Yarden.
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Gideon’s “battle” against the Midianites utilized an unusual strategy that brought about an uncommon outcome. God reduced his original army of 32,000 to 300. The “attack” was scheduled for midnight, making it hard for them to see. The soldiers were divided into three companies of 100 each, forming a ring around the Midianite camp. For “weapons,” each soldier held a torch and a trumpet. Swords must have been sheathed. The breaking of pottery, sudden blaze of light, blaring of trumpets, and shouts of the soldiers startled the Midianites out of their sleep. They probably thought that each of those trumpeters represented a company of up to 100 men. Startled from sleep, fearing they were surrounded by thousands, in panic the Midianites turned their swords on each other and fled.
With this unusual strategy, God caused confusion and fear in the camp of the Midianites. As He does so often in Scripture, God accomplished a lot with a little: an unlikely leader and a small "army" who didn;t even have to use their swords to win the battle. Maybe, just maybe, a God like that could do more with us if we would let Him.
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Hymn for Today: "Lead On, O King Eternal" by Earnest W. Shurtleff
1. Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
thy grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.
2. Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin's fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
nor roll of stirring drums;
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.
3. Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where'er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.
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Thought of the Day: 1 Samuel 2:9 He will guard the steps of his faithful,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
For it is not by strength that a person prevails —
10 those who fight Adonai will be shattered;
he will thunder against them in heaven —
Adonai will judge the ends of the earth.
He will strengthen his king
and enhance the power of his anointed.”
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Please Pray: For faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in the Dominican Republic.
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but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
For it is not by strength that a person prevails —
10 those who fight Adonai will be shattered;
he will thunder against them in heaven —
Adonai will judge the ends of the earth.
He will strengthen his king
and enhance the power of his anointed.”
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Please Pray: For faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in the Dominican Republic.
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