Thursday, April 9, 2020

Judges 7:12 says, And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.  There was a vast army opposing the Israelites, who now numbered three-hundred.  Verse thirteen states, And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.  A man told of a dream he had where a cake of barley tumbled the host of Midian.  Verse fourteen adds, And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.  Another man said this represented the sword of Gideon having the host of Midian delivered into his hand by God.  Even those that do not know God can see His work in the world.  Verse fifteen states,  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.  Gideon heard the dream and the interpretation and returned to his people and told them to arise, because the LORD had delivered the Midianites.  We know that God has delivered us from all the power of evil in the world today, so it is time to arise and claim that victory.  Verse sixteen adds, And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.  Gideon divided the three hundred into three groups, and armed them with pitchers and lamps.  This does not sound like a good armament for war against a vast army.  Verse seventeen says, And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.  Gideon told the three hundred to follow his example.  We today as Christians are called on to follow the example of Christ.  Verse eighteen adds, When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.  The first thing that Gideon told them to do was that when he blew his trumpet, they were to blow their trumpets and shout the sword of the LORD and Gideon.  The Lord was put first, just as we must put Him first in the things that we do today.  Verse nineteen declares, So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.  At the beginning of a new watch, or changing of the guard, Gideon and those wit him blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers.  This would have only been somewhat confusing it would seem, but it was the battle plan of God.  We need never question God's methods, but must simply carry out His plan.  Verse twenty says, And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.  All three hundred did as they had been instructed to do.  God's plan will be much more successful if all His people carry it out.  Verse twenty-one states, And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.  All the enemy fled.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.  The LORD caused the Midianites to start killing one another as Gideon and the three hundred blew their trumpets.  God's enemies often work against themselves today, and in the coming judgment each person will only have himself or herself to blame if they are guilty of not accepting the salvation of Christ.  Verse twenty-three states, And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.  The men from many tribes of Israel pursued the Midianites.  Verse twenty-four declares, And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.  Gideon sent word to the people of Ephraim to come down and help.  All of God's people today need to be a part of the battle against evil in the world.  We are all needed in different ways, but when we know that a call comes from God, we need to answer that call.  Verse twenty-five adds, And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.  The people of Ephraim took two princes of Midian and beheaded them and pursued the Midianites.  God will always lead His people to victory spiritually, if they only put their faith in Him.

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