Winning with less: God's strategy for victory

 

The story of Gideon, one of the judges of Israel, is recorded in the Book of Judges, chapters 6-8. It is a remarkable tale of God's deliverance of Israel from oppression, showcasing themes of faith, obedience, and the sovereignty of God.

1. The Oppression of Israel (Judges 6:1-10)

The Israelites were experiencing a period of oppression under the Midianites. For seven years, the Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, would invade Israel at harvest time, destroying crops, livestock, and other resources. This left the Israelites in severe poverty and fear, hiding in caves and strongholds. They cried out to God for help.

In response to their cry, God sent a prophet to remind them of His faithfulness and of the covenant He had made with their ancestors. God had brought them out of Egypt, but they had turned to idolatry and disobeyed His commands, which led to their oppression.

2. The Calling of Gideon (Judges 6:11-24)

Gideon, a man from the tribe of Manasseh, was threshing wheat in a winepress, a hidden place, to avoid the Midianites' raiders. This was a sign of fear and oppression, as threshing was usually done on a hilltop. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and addressed him as "Mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). The angel declared that God had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites.

Gideon was initially doubtful and full of questions. He wondered why God had allowed Israel to suffer if He was truly with them. He also questioned why he, the youngest member of his family, from the least tribe, was chosen for such a task. Despite his doubts, Gideon asked for a sign to confirm that it was indeed God who was speaking to him. The angel instructed him to prepare a meal, which he did, and the angel miraculously consumed the offering by touching it with the tip of His staff, causing fire to rise from the rock. This convinced Gideon that he had encountered the Lord, and he built an altar there, calling it "The Lord Is Peace."

3. Gideon's Call to Destroy the Altar of Baal (Judges 6:25-32)

That same night, God instructed Gideon to tear down the altar of Baal in his hometown and cut down the Asherah pole (a symbol of idol worship) beside it. God told him to build an altar to the Lord on the high ground and offer a sacrifice using the bull from his father’s herd.

Fearing his family and the men of the town, Gideon did this at night. The next morning, the townspeople were angry when they saw the altar destroyed and demanded to know who had done it. When they learned it was Gideon, they wanted to kill him. However, his father, Joash, stood up for him, reasoning that if Baal was truly a god, he could defend himself. This bold act of faith marked the beginning of Gideon's leadership and the rejection of idolatry in his community.

4. The Sign of the Fleece (Judges 6:33-40)

Gideon, still unsure of God's call, asked for another sign. He laid out a wool fleece on the threshing floor and asked God to confirm His will in a very specific way: he wanted the fleece to be wet with dew while the ground around it remained dry. God did this for him. Still uncertain, Gideon requested one more sign, asking for the opposite: that the fleece would be dry while the ground was covered in dew. Again, God answered his request.

These signs helped Gideon overcome his doubts and built his confidence that God would be with him in the coming battle.

5. The Battle Against the Midianites (Judges 7:1-22)

With his faith strengthened, Gideon gathered an army to confront the Midianites. Initially, 32,000 men responded to his call, but God told Gideon that the army was too large. God wanted to ensure that Israel would not claim the victory for themselves but would recognize that it was God's deliverance.

Gideon was instructed to tell anyone who was afraid to go home, and 22,000 men left, leaving only 10,000. But God said the army was still too large. He instructed Gideon to take the men to the water and observe how they drank. Those who knelt down to drink were sent home, while those who lapped the water with their hands (remaining vigilant) were kept. This reduced Gideon's army to just 300 men.

Now, with an army of 300 men, Gideon was ready to face the Midianites. God reassured him that if he was still afraid, he could sneak into the enemy camp with his servant, Purah. Gideon did so and overheard a Midianite soldier telling a dream in which a loaf of barley bread rolled into the camp and knocked over a tent, symbolizing that Gideon would defeat the Midianites. This gave Gideon even greater courage.

6. The Victory (Judges 7:16-25)

Gideon equipped his 300 men with trumpets, empty jars, and torches. At night, they surrounded the Midianite camp. On Gideon's signal, the men blew their trumpets, broke the jars, and held up their torches, creating confusion and fear in the Midianite camp. The Midianites, believing they were under attack by a large army, panicked and began to fight each other. Many of them fled, and Gideon's army pursued them, killing many and capturing the remaining leaders.

The victory was miraculous. Gideon, with his small army, had defeated a vast enemy force, all because of God's power and intervention.

7. The Aftermath and Gideon's Leadership (Judges 8:1-21)

After the battle, the Ephraimites, a neighboring tribe, were upset that they hadn't been called to fight earlier. Gideon diplomatically calmed them, pointing out that they had won a greater victory by capturing the Midianite leaders.

Gideon pursued the remaining Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, and defeated them. He then asked the Israelites to give him their gold earrings as tribute, which he used to make an ephod (a religious garment). Unfortunately, this became an object of idolatry for the people, and they began to worship it.

8. Gideon's Decline and Death (Judges 8:22-35)

After the victory, the Israelites wanted to make Gideon king, but he refused, saying that only God should rule over them. Despite his humility, Gideon's later years were marked by personal and spiritual decline. He had many wives and 70 sons, and one of his sons, Abimelech, would later attempt to seize power through violence.

Gideon died at an old age, and Israel had peace for 40 years during his lifetime. However, after his death, the Israelites quickly returned to idolatry and disobedience, forgetting the lessons they had learned under Gideon's leadership.

9. Theological Themes and Lessons

Faith and Obedience: Gideon's story demonstrates that God often calls ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Gideon's doubts and fears were overcome through his faith and obedience, and God used him despite his weaknesses.

God’s Power in Weakness: The reduction of Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300 men underscores the principle that God often works through small, unlikely means to accomplish His purposes. This ensured that Israel would not boast in their own strength but would recognize God as the true deliverer.

Idolatry and Apostasy: The eventual idolatry surrounding Gideon’s ephod serves as a warning. Even after God’s deliverance, the Israelites struggled to remain faithful. This highlights the danger of turning back to idols after experiencing God’s mighty works.

Leadership and Humility: Gideon’s refusal to accept kingship is notable for his humility, acknowledging that only God should rule over Israel. However, his later failures demonstrate the importance of consistent faithfulness and the danger of allowing personal ambition and sin to take root.

The story of Gideon is a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and ability to work through flawed human vessels to accomplish His purposes. It teaches that God is greater than any fear or obstacle and that true victory comes through trust in Him.