Judges 7:13-25 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Judges 7:13-25. But let’s start at verse 8 so that we get some context. Let’s go!
Judges 7:8-15 (NIV)
8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.
9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.
10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah
11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “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.”
14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”
On verses 8-15: At night the LORD told Gideon in verse 9 to get up and go down into the valley against the Midianite camp. But just in case Gideon was still afraid to go, to give Gideon some extra assurance, the LORD tells Gideon to take his servant Purah and first go down to the Midian camp and listen to what the Midianites are saying (v10-11). When Gideon and Purah go down to the massive Midianite camp, Gideon happens to overhear one man confessing to his friend a dream he had that a big round loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp and destroyed it. Both the man’s friend (v14) and Gideon (v15) interpret this dream to mean that the God had given the Midianites into the Israelites’ hands.
What can we learn from this? When God speaks to you, He will often communicate the same message to you more than once and in different ways.
Also, notice the effect that God’s Word had on Gideon: it encouraged him to go in the direction that God was already taking him in (v15).
Judges 7:16-22a (NIV)
16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.'”
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.
20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”
21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords…
On verses 16-22a: Like great leaders do, Gideon leads by example. But notice what kind of example Gideon sets: he doesn’t even carry a sword. All he has is, in his right hand, a trumpet and, in his left hand, an empty jar with a torch inside it. So sharp was the sword of God’s promise in Gideon’s heart, Gideon didn’t think he needed to carry a physical sword. Amazingly, his army follows him. At the sound of the Israelites’ trumpets blasting, the Midianites flee in a panic and end up turning on each other.
Once again God proved faithful to His promise. He is able to do more than we ever could in our own strength.
Judges 7:22b-25 (NIV)
22…The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.
On verses 22b-25: We will look at these verses more tomorrow in connection with Judges 8.
Thank You Father that You are forever faithful to Your promises and ever encouraging with Your Word. I pray that I would be open, humble and attentive enough to hear You each time You speak to me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
