Judges 8:1

Judges 8:1 says, And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.  The men of Ephraim asked Gideon why he didn't call them when he went against the Midianites, and chided him.  Too often today Christians get upset with other Christians because thay somehow feel slighted if these other Christians are being successful without them, but instead we should rejoice with them at their success if it comes from obeying God.  Verse two adds, And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?  Gideon asked how they thought he was better.  He then asked if dealing with the remnant by the people of Ephraim was not as important as the other Israelites dealing with the main force. Today, cleaning up remaining sins is just as important as dealing with the majority.  Verse three continues, God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.  Gideon asked them if the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, were not delivered by God to them, then they lost their anger toward him.  Instead of being angry at other Christians because they seemingly been more successful than us, we need to look to God and give Him the glory for what they have accomplished.  Verse four states, And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. Gideon and the three hundred, though tired, crossed over the Jordan still in pursuit of the Midianites.  There were about fifteen thousand Midianites, and Gideon was still remaining true to God's telling him to take only three hundred men with him.  We should never allow the size of the enemy forces to keep us from doing what God calls us to do, even when we get tired.  Verse five adds, And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.  Gideon asked the men of Succoth to give bread to the three hundred and him, because they were weak and yet still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.  We should never be reluctant to ask our fellow Christians for help when we need it to accomplish God's will.  Verse six continues, And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?  The people of Succoth asked if Gideon had already captured Zebah and Zalmunna so that they should give them bread.  We should never demand a final result before helping people in carrying out their calling from God, especially when they are in great need of help.  Verse seven says, And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.  Gideon said that since the people of Succoth would not help them, as soon as he was successful he was going to return and punish them.  Verse eight adds, And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.  Gideon then went to the men of Penuel and asked them for help, and they treated him the same way as the people of Succoth had.  The people of Succoth and Penuel were both of the tribe of Gad and therefore a part of the people of Israel.  As followers of Christ, we should never refuse help to other Christians, even if some who also profess to be do.  Verse nine continues, And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.  Gideon then told the people of Penuel that when he returned to them in peace, he would break down their tower.

Judges 7:16

Judges 7:16 says, 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 men into three groups, and gave each a trumpet and an empty pitcher.  These are not exactly the armament that we would choose to go against an overwhelming enemy, but Gideon was being led by God, and so must we be today.  Verse seventeen adds, 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 watch him as he came to the camp of the Midianites and to do as he did.  We today need to look to God by faith in Jesus Christ and do what the Holy Spirit leads us to do as we face our enemies.  Verse eighteen continues, 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.  Gideon told them that when he blew the trumpet that all that were with him would blow their trumpet, then so should all those on all sides of the Midianites, and then they were to shout, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon."  We today as Christians need to look to God first and always for deliverance from bad situations, and make sure that we give Him credit when He delivers us.  Verse nineteen states, 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.  Verse twenty concludes, 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.  After breaking their pitchers, all three hundred held their lamps in their left hand and blew the trumpet with their right while shouting the sword of the LORD and of Gideon, as Gideon had directed them to do.  We today need to always do what God directs us to do if we want to be successful.  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.  The army of the Midianites fled.  As long as we follow what God tells us to do, all our enemies will one day flee from us, if not in this lifetime, then in the everlasting one to come.  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. It is stated once again that the whole army of Midianites fled from the area.  Verse twenty-three continues, 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 other tribes of Israel began to gather together and pursue the Midianites.  God had limited the army of Gideon at the start, but He did not keep others from joining in once the battle was under way.  We have many other Christians joining us the battle against sin and evil today, even if we sometimes feel that we are small in numbers.  Verse twenty-four says, 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 messengers to the other Israelites near by calling on them to join the battle, and they did.  God still calls on all His people to join the battle against sin and evil in the world today, and we are to do so by sharing the gospel..  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.  They took the heads Oreb and Zeeb, and brought them to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.  We don't need to bring the heads of anyone to any Christian leader today, but we do need to never let physical barriers keep us apart.  We as followers of Christ are all a part of the same army of God.

Judges 7:9

Judges 7:9 says, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.  That night, after reducing Gideon's army from over thirty thousand down to three hundred, God told Gideon to arise, get down into the host of Midianites.  God then told Gideon that He had delivered the enemy into his hand.  We may be outnumbered as followers of Christ today, but God expects us to engage the enemy everyday, all the sin inspired by Satan, and He has already delivered them into our hand as long as we are faithful to Him.  Verse ten says, But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:  Then, God told Gideon that if he was afraid to go down with his army, to go with his servant Phurah.  God gave Gideon a choice of acting in faith or gathering more facts, and I believe He still does today, even though ideally we will always act in faith.  Verse eleven continues, And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.  God told Gideon after he heard what the army of the Midianites were saying, then his hands would be strengthened to go down to fight them.  Gideon, though he might have been afraid, did as God told him to do, and so must we today.  We should never let fear control us, but should live by faith, if we have indeed accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve states, 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.  What Gideon found was an army of Midianites and Amalekites that were like grasshoppers in their numbers, and not their physical size, and they had camels without number.  This probably didn't encourage Gideon.  We may be outnumbered as Christians today, but I am not sure that we are ever this badly outnumbered.  Still, God expects us to stand tall in our faith and and face whatever enemy comes our way.  Verse thirteen adds, 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.  As Gideon and Phurah were spying, they heard a man of the Midianites tell of a dream he had, where a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, came into a tent and smote it so that it fell and lay alone.  Gideon,  who had threashed corn and made cakes for his friends was represented by the barley cake, and his small army and he, by the power of God, were going to destroy the Midianites and Amalekites gathered against them.  Verse fourteen continues, 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.  One of the other Midianites interpreted the dream as representing them being delivered to fall by the sword of Gideon.  Gideon may not have had total faith in the outcome, but his enemies seemed to believe that he was powerful enough to destroy them.  What we need to realize is that no matter how powerful our enemies may be today, God is infinitely more powerful.  Verse fifteen concludes, 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.  After hearing the dream and its interpretation, Gideon worshipped God and then returned and told his army to arise, that God had delivered the army of the Midianites into their hands.  We need to arise everyday, knowing that God has delivered our enemies into our hands, and then simply live out our day by faith.

Judges 7:1

Judges 7:1 says, Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.  Gideon and those and with him got up early and gathered at the well of Herod, with the army of the Midianites to the north of them.  We today cannot as easily identify where all our enemies are, though some are easier to identify than others, but we always know that God is with us as Christians.  Verse two adds, And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  God then told Gideon that the army he had gathered was too large.  God said that if He delivered the Midianites to them with that great of an army, that the people of Israel might brag that they had delivered themselves from the Midianites and not give the glory to God.  I believe that too often today we as followers of Christ are unwilling to do what God calls us to do until we can be certain that we can do it ourselves, so much goes undone.  Verse three continues, Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.  God told Gilead to tell the people that all who were fearful and afraid could go home, and twenty-two thousand left, leaving an army of ten thousand.  Verse four declares, And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.  God then told Gideon there were still too many, and for him to bring them down by the water and God would then tell him who to keep and who to send home.  It may be that at times today God is reducing the number to fight a particular enemy, not because many are not willing to fight, but so that the world can see the power of God at work.  Verse five adds, So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.  God told Gideon to separate those remaing by the way they drank water, separating those who lapped like a dog from those who kneeled and drank.  Verse six continues, And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.  There were three hundred who brought their hand to their mouth and lapped the water, and the rest knelt down to lean over and drink the water.  Gideon may have been hoping that the three hundred were the ones who would be eliminated, just as we todsy may wish for greater numbers to accomplish what God has called us to do, instead of wanting to simply have those that God has called and empowered to help us.  Verse seven states, And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.  Instead of sending the three hundred home, God told Gideon that He would deliver the Midianites to him by them, and for Gideon to send the rest of them home.  No matter how large an enemy may be today, if we are faithful to God, He has already giving us the everlasting victory, and even if we feel that we need more people to join us in the battle, we need to go with those who God has called to be with us and not great number's that He hasn't called.  This does not mean that we are better than them, but simply that God has not called them into this particular battle.  Verse eight adds, So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.  By God's direction, Gideon kept only the three hundred to engage in the battle against the Midianites.  Gideon had questioned God when He called him and twice demanded a sign, but now he was willing to do what God said without questioning Him, even if it made no sense in worldly thought.  We need to act by faith when God calls us, without asking for signs or questioning the logic of the situation.  If we are truly acting by God's directions, that is all that matters.  

Judges 6:33

Judges 6:33 says, Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.  The Midianites and the Amalekites were uniting for battle against Israel.  We should not be surprised when people of the world unite against Christians today.  Verse thirty-four adds, But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, Gideon blew his trumpet and Abiezer came to him.  We need to be directed by the Holy Spirit today and unite together as Christians.  Verse thirty-five continues, And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.  Gideon began to send messengers to the people of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, and they gathered with Gideon.  We need to rally as followers of Christ today when any fellow Christian calls on us for help.  Verse thirty-six states, And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,  Gideon began to question if God had called him to be used to deliver Israel.  If we live by faith, we should never be guilty of questioning God's call to action as Christians.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.  Gideon proposed putting out fleece to test his calling.  He said if only the fleece was wet with dew and the ground was dry, he would know that God had indeed called him.  We should never be guilty of demanding proof from God when He calls us to do anything.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.  The next morning, the fleece was so wet that Gideon was able to wring a bowl full of water out of it.  This should have been ample proof, but it wasn't.  Verse thirty-nine says, And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.  Gideon then asked that God leave the fleece dry and the ground around it be wet.  We don't need to spend time questioning God, especially if He has already given us proof of His calling.  Verse forty adds, And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.  God again gave Gideon the proof he asked for.  If we live by faith, God will never leave us in doubt as to what He wants us to do.

Judges 6:25

Judges 6:25 says, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:  That same night, the LORD came to Gideon telling nim to take a a young bullock and a second one seven years old to be used as sacrifices.  Matthew Henry says the first was likely to be used as a sacrifice for Gideon and the second for the other people of Israel.  Before he could sacrifice them though, Gideon was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the grove around it.  Before we can truly worship God, we must tear down any other altars in our life.  Verse twenty-six adds, And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Gideon was told that after he tore down the altar to Baal that he was to build an altar to God on the rock that was specified.  We today need to build our altar to God on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.  Gideon took ten men of his own servants by night and did as God had told him to do, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city.  We may have fear when we are called by God to do something, but we cannot allow that fear to keep us from doing it.  Faith must always override fear.  Verse twenty-eight states, And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  When the people of the city arose, they found what Gideon under God's guidance and empowerment had done.  When we are doing what God tells us to do, the people of the world should be able to see the results.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  They asked who had done this, and got the answer that it was Gideon.  Gideon may have feared the people of the city, and probably even his father as well, but he still did as God commanded, and now it would be up to God to protect him.  When we are doing what God calls us to do, even in the face of great opposition, we need to simply rely on God to protect us.  Verse thirty continues, Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.  The men of the city came to Joash, Gideon's father and demanded that he send Gideon out to die because he had destroyed the altar of Baal and cut down the grove around it.  As we stand with God today, we as followers of Christ will face opposition from the world, and some may even die for their faith, but we must remain faithful to God.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.  Gideon's father actually defended him, telling the men of the city that if Baal were offended, then let him take Gideon's life.  These were Israelites who were ready to kill one of their own to be faithful to Baal, a false god.  Verse thirty-two adds, Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.  Joash said that Gideon should be called Jerubbaal, or let Baal plead his case.  If Baal was a real and powerful god, he could certainly destroy one who had defied and dishonored him.

Judges 6:11

Judges 6:11 says, And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  An angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak tree in Ophrah.  Matthew Henry says this was not an ordinary angel, but Jesus Christ Himself.  He observed Gideon, the son Joash, of the half tribe of Manasseh at work attempting to keep some of the wheat from the Midianites.  Verse twelve adds, And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.  The Angel appeared to Gideon, told him the LORD was with him,and called him a mighty man of valor, though all Gideon was doing at that time as thrashing wheat.  God sees us today as what we can be by faith in Him, and not as what we are as the world may see us.  Verse thirteen continues, And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.  Gideon questioned the angel, calling Him my Lord, as to why God had allowed this oppression to come on them since He was the One to deliver them out of Egypt.  We may sometimes question why God allows bad things to happen to us, but in this case it was because of the disobedience of the people of Israel.  Verse fourteen declares, And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Here, the angel is referred to as the LORD, the unspeakable name of God.  Gideon was to go in his might and then he would save the people of Israel from the Midianites.  Of course, Gideon's might really came from faith in the LORD, and not his own might.  As followers of Christ, we go out into the world empowered by the Holy Spirit, and not by our power alone, and God has already given us everlasting victory.   Verse fifteen adds, And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. Gideon questioned how he could deliver Israel, since his family was poor in Manasseh, and he was the least of his fathers house.  Gideon saw himself as the world saw him, and not as God saw him, and we as Christians often do the same thing today.  We need to acknowledge that if God calls on us to do anything that He will empower us to do it.  Verse sixteen continues, And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.  The LORD, not just an angel, told Gideon that He would surely be with him.  We do not need to worship or put our faith in angels, but only in Jesus Christ Himself, and when we do, the Holy Spirit will always be with us.  Verse seventeen states, And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.  Gideon then asked that if it was the LORD that he was speaking to and if he had found grace in His sight, to give him a sign.  Too often today, we demand signs from God when He calls us to do something, instead of simply acting out of faith.  Verse eighteen adds, Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.  Gideon asked that the angel, or the LORD really, not depart until he could bring Him a gift, and He agreed.  The only gift we can give to Jesus Christ that matters is the gift of ourself by accepting Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse nineteen continues, And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.  Gideon prepared a meal of kid goat meat and broth and brought it to the LORD.  Verse twenty states, And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.  Instead of eating the meal, the angel of the LORD told Gideon to place it on a rock and pour the broth on it.  This was not a sign of contempt for the offering, as Matthew Henry says, but the preparation of showing Gideon a sign.  God does not demand that we give to Him because we have anything He needs, but as a sign of our obedience to Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. The angel of the LORD then touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes with the end of His staff, and they were consumed by fire, then the angel of the LORD departed.  God may not always give us a definitive answer to our questions by some sign, but He will always give us an answer if we are willing to acknowledge it.  Gideon had asked for a sign, and God gave him one, and he recognized the fact.  Verse twenty-two continues, And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.  Gideon thought because he had seen an angel of the LORD face, that he was going to die, but people did not die from seeing angels, but from seeing the face of God Himself, which implies this was more than just an angel.  Verse twenty-three says, And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.  We then read that the LORD told Gideon not to fear, because he wasn't going to die from seeing Him.  We today have never seen God face to face, but we will not die from doing so if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  One day, we will indeed see Him face to face forever.  Verse twenty-four adds, Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  Gideon built an altar to God there and called it Jehovahshalom, or God's peace.  We are not to worship anyone but God, and building an altar was a sign of worship, so it could not have been built to just an angel and have been accepted.  When we meet God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we should be at peace with Him.