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Judges 7:9–15
“And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, ‘Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand’” (Judg. 7:15).
God’s reduction of the Israelite force from thirty-two thousand men to three hundred apparently shakes Gideon’s brittle faith anew. But God again demonstrates His tender care for a weak child by bolstering his trust once more, this time using a most unexpected source. As Matthew Henry says: “Gideon’s army being diminished, … he must either fight by faith or not at all. God therefore here provides recruits for his faith, instead of recruits for his forces.”
On the very night after God reduced Gideon’s force, He commands him to launch his attack against the Midianite camp. Plus, He gives him a promise of unequivocal success: “ ‘I have delivered it into your hand.’ ” But Gideon is struggling with powerful new doubts, as God well knows, for He adds, “ ‘But if you are afraid to go down …’ ” What follows, however, is not condemnation for a lack of faith but a prescription for erasing doubt. Gideon is to take a servant and infiltrate the camp of the Midianites. What he will hear there, God assures him, will strengthen him for the battle to come.
Gideon and his servant Purah therefore venture as spies into the vast camp of the Midianites and their allies. Ironically, this expedition requires a good measure of courage on Gideon’s part. They manage to get close enough to hear one Midianite soldier telling another of a dream he has had. Like many dreams, it borders on the ridiculous; the soldier says he saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling down the hill into the Midianite camp, where it hit a tent and caused it to collapse. Henry notes that “if Gideon had heard the dream only, and he and his servant had been left to interpret it themselves, it had so little significancy in it that it would have done him little service.” But God supplies the meaning—through another Midianite. The barley loaf represents Gideon, the soldier declares, and its effect on the tent shows that “ ‘Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.’ ”
Hearing this word that shows the Midianites to be fearful and dispirited; seeing the sovereignty of God, who caused the dream, provided the interpretation, and brought him to the right tent at the right time to hear them voiced; and observing again God’s willingness to bolster his faith, Gideon worships. Then, once more brimming with trust, he returns to call his tiny band of Israelites into battle.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The portrait of Gideon as a doubting, fearful, wavering man continues to grow. And yet, God is pleased to use him. What does this say to you as you contemplate your own weaknesses or lack of charismatic gifts? Strive to rely upon God to give you all the abilities you need for the tasks He gives you. In short, trust Him, not yourself.
for further study
- Romans 14:4
- 1 Corinthians 2:4–5
- 2 Corinthians 4:7
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
- 1 Timothy 1:12