God's Battle

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Judges 7:9-16

TO CHEW ON: "When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, 'Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.' ” Judges 7:15

The first job God gave Gideon to do was to smash the Baal idols in his father’s house. The second job was to fight the Midianites. Thousands of men showed up to join Gideon’s army.

But God told Gideon, “With so many soldiers your army will take credit for winning. I want everyone to know that it’s Me, God, who is making you win, not your big army or your wise plans. Send home all the men who are afraid.”

Twenty-two thousand men left that day. Less than one thousand soldiers were left.

“This is still too many,” God said. After Gideon sent home more soldiers, only three hundred were left.

How will I ever beat the Midianites with such a small army, Gideon wondered.

That night God woke Gideon up and said to him, “If you’re scared, go the enemy’s camp and listen to what they’re saying.”

Gideon and his servant snuck into the valley. The enemy soldiers were sleeping. Then they heard one soldier talking to another. He was telling about a dream he’d had.

1. What was the dream? (Judges 7:13) _______

2. What did his friend say it meant? (Judges 7:14) ____________.

Now Gideon knew God was making the Midianites afraid. He hurried back to camp. “Get up! Let’s go!” he said to his soldiers. “God will help us win right now.”

He split his men into three groups. He gave each man weapons – a trumpet, a torch hidden inside a bowl – and told them to spread around the enemy’s camp. When they were all in place, Gideon gave the signal. All together they blew their trumpets, broke their bowls and showed their torches.

All together they blew their trumpets - Artist unknown

The trumpet blasts and sounds of shattering pottery woke up the enemy soldiers. The torches made it look like a huge army all around them. In confusion and fear the Midianite soldiers began killing each other. Because Gideon fought God’s way, God won a great victory for Israel that day.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to do things Your way. Then help me to give You the glory for the success You give. Amen.


MORE: How will it work?
Like Gideon, we may not be able to figure out how God’s instructions will work. But God knows exactly what to do. Here are Bible words that remind us about that.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9

You may want to memorize these verses. Next time you don’t understand something God is telling you to do, review these words and remind yourself of God’s wise thoughts and ways.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


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