Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ So, twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
Judges 7:3 NIV
Gideon’s faith is a powerful example of how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things through trust in God. His story, as recorded in Judges 6-8, exemplifies the unlimited possibilities God can bring out of an ordinary man. God chose him to deliver His people from the Midianites. However, his initial actions, according to Judges 7:1-2, do not seem to fully depict a man who totally depends on God for victory. Yet, he eventually became a hero of faith we can learn from today. Let’s explore Gideon’s initial misstep and how God intervened to ensure he stayed on the right path.
His story offers profound biblical lessons on faith and obedience. Gideon, despite initial hesitations, became a hero of faith by allowing God to guide him to victory. As we explore Gideon’s journey, we uncover insights into overcoming fear and relying on God’s promises to accomplish His divine purpose.
In Judges 6:36, Gideon seemed to understand that God was in charge of saving Israel and that he was merely an instrument in God’s plan. Consider his words: “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised.” Gideon acknowledged that God would save Israel. However, his preparation for battle did not allow enough room for God to act. He gathered so many troops that God told him, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me’” (Judges 7:2, NIV).
Imagine the irony: the man who was supposed to trust God had gathered so many men. Consequently, God said He could not deliver Midian into their hands. To Gideon, a large army seemed necessary to defeat the Midianites. However, God saw the large army as a hindrance. In fact, if Gideon had gone to war with his large army, they would have been defeated. This is because God declared He could not deliver Midian into their hands.
Meanwhile, the crucial issue I would like to point out in Judges 7:3 is the reality of Gideon’s army. With just one announcement, twenty-two thousand men left and went home. The so-called armies were afraid. Gideon’s troops melted in fear before even reaching the battlefield. Such men would have run away on the road and most likely in the heat of battle. Gideon would have failed not because God couldn’t give him victory but because he relied on people rather than God.
Consider what task God has placed in your hands. What mission has He sent you on? Who have you chosen to accompany you? Are you relying on your wisdom to select them? Are you using the wrong tools and people for a mission that requires only faith and obedience? God will do what He promised, but you must ensure you are not introducing hindrances that could obstruct His manifestation. After God’s careful scrutiny, Gideon’s army downsized to three hundred men.
It is important to note that God does not necessarily need much to win a battle. Yet, He chose these three hundred men from the several thousand that Gideon initially gathered.
Gideon’s story teaches us that reliance on God is essential for achieving what He has called us to do. It is not the number of resources or people we gather but our faith and obedience that count. As we embark on our God-given missions, we must be mindful of the people and tools we rely on, ensuring they align with God’s purpose. In doing so, we allow God to work powerfully in our lives and to make an hero out of us, just as He did for Gideon.
