God is the Victor!

As we move forward with the story of Gideon, we find him totally outfitted with the Spirit of the Lord! He was fortified with God’s Spirit; and ready to go and get the job done. Isn’t that an amazing way to start a task? The Spirit of God by our side, leading and guiding us as we begin to minister and serve as God has asked. The hesitant Gideon is no longer; in his place stands Gideon led by God’s Spirit before an Israelite army of 32,000 combatants. What a mighty force of soldiery!
But, wait, a new order from God: “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” Judges 7: 2-3
I think, “Wow, I wonder how Gideon felt at this command?” Here was a man with significant self-doubts and to have 22,000 of his men leave him, must have been a weighty “knock-back!” But, before he had time to really think about it, God told him, “There are still too many!” Seriously? Our human nature and its reasoning, “kicks in” and we start the doubt-wandering in our minds. What do we do? We just follow orders and do what we’re told. We let the Spirit of God guide us and by faith we move forward!
Judges 7:4 “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you, he shall go but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you, he shall not go.’” Thus, Gideon obeyed and took them down to the river to drink. Those who lapped up the water with their tongues, drinking like a dog drinks, were allowed to stay and all others were sent home. Gideon was left with just 300 men in his army!
Can you feel Gideon’s trembling when God told him, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.” Hearing what God wants us to do is one thing and it is definitely quite another to actually go out there and do it! God knew how Gideon felt. God felt Gideon’s trembling spirit, I don’t doubt it because I’ve gone through this trembling many times. Yet, God in his great love and wisdom told Gideon, “if you’re afraid to attack, just go down to the camp…listen to what they are saying, and you will be encouraged to do as I ask you to do.”
When Gideon did this he heard that the Midianite soldiers were also afraid. One was telling another, “I had a dream that a round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” The other responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
Do you know what Gideon did when he heard this dream and the interpretation? Attack? No, he bowed down and worshiped. He was encouraged and thanked God in worship for what He was about to do. Gideon realized as we do when we move by faith; regardless of the odds against us, God provides and is always there. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
God is the Victor… we must never forget that!