“Then the LORD said to Gideon, 'The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there.'” (Judges 7:4).
Gideon was the fifth judge of Israel. He played a small but important role in the history of God's people. Gideon lived during a time when Israel had forsaken God and had worshipped idols. The nation had abandoned its true source of national strength and the source of its blessings much like our own nation has done today. God had withdrawn his blessings and protection, and the nation had suffered. As voices began to call upon God for deliverance, God used Gideon to answer the need. Gideon was a reluctant leader who was finally convinced of the power of God. He ultimately led the children of Israel in victory over their enemies, the Midianites.
God is the "ultimate Quantum Mechanic." He knows where everything fits in time and eternity. NOTHING is a surprise to God. We humans are merely chess pieces on a large board in the universe. His "pieces" are represented by the "remnant" of Christ Jesus. His opponent (if you want to call it that) is the devil. Although the devil is a less than worthy adversary, he prevails as more of a nuisance than a threat to God only because people are so selfish, fearful, stubborn and wicked.
Much like the soldiers in Gideon's army, today's believers are replete with guilt, fear, doubt and disobedience. In the Book of Judges, God commands Gideon to bring his men down to the water (which represents the spirit) to be tested (to determine their faithfulness and commitment).
Gideon's army of 32,000 was reduced in size (vv. 1-8). Already sorely outnumbered (the enemy numbered over 120,000 swordsmen), most would see this as a time to go out and recruit more warriors. But it might be that after the victory the Lord would give them, the people might think it had been by their own strength and ability that they had won the victory. So, the Lord commanded Gideon to further reduce the number under his command "...lest Israel claim glory for itself...saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'" (Judges 7:2). Any who were “afraid and trembling” were told they could go home. As a result, some 22,000 departed leaving 10,000 to fight the Midianites.
And then He gave them TRUMPETS?
The Sword (Word) of the Lord and Gideon
"Gideon attacked the Midianites with his 300 men who took torches, pitchers, swords, and trumpets. (vv. 9-23). “Now the same night it came about that the LORD said to him, 'Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands.'” (Judges 7:9).
Why the Lord GOD gave them TRUMPETS: "Sonic Violence"
"Any severe extreme imposed on the sonic environment has a profoundly destabilizing effect on the individual. This becomes evident in both the areas of high intensity acoustic energy and also its complete absence. Anechoic chambers, which create an environment void of sound, have the ability to produce similar feelings of disorientation and disturbance that are evident with high intensity sound.
The silence envelops the individual in a suffocating manner causing both psychological trauma and also physiological disturbance in the form of balance and other related body function. It is clearly apparent that the human organism is in an extremely delicate state of equilibrium with the sonic environment and any profound disturbance of this system will have subsequent ramifications on the individual.
References to sound as a violent entity date from the biblical trumpets that brought down the walls of Jericho and those used by Gideon's army to current trends in acoustic weapons research including the work conducted by organizations such as Scientific Applications And Research Associated Incorporated (SARA)."
(Altmann, Jürgen, AcousticWeapons — A prospective Assessment, Universität Dortmund / Institut für Experimentalphysik III April 1999)
Gideon was "fully persuaded" that God had already given him the victory because God has told him so AND he BELIEVED it! Gideon ultimately divided his 300 men into troops of 100 and surrounded the Midian camp. Because it was night and the Midianites could not see, they became disoriented and didn't realize they were killing each other. As a result, the Midianites were devastated by Gideon's troops. The strategy to employ the assistance of the tribe of Ephraim to cut off the hasty retreat of the Midianites as they fled for the Jordan River sealed the victory for the Lord God.
The final battle of the campaign was fought at Jogbehah ("lofty" in Hebrew). The Midianite army was routed again, and the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna were killed.
The Result of Faithfulness to the Lord God
- Even in a culture steeped in idolatry, God Himself will visit the True Worshiper.
- Even in a land ravaged by an unnatural famine as overweight souls starve while gorging themselves with lies and deception, the True Believers will feast on His Word.
- Even among a people who have cast away their covenant with God and taken sides in the sexually immoral games idolaters play, True Believers will be the pure in heart and at peace.
- Even in a world of fear and violence, True Believers will have the Peace of God ruling in their hearts. (Phil 4:7; Col 3:15)
- Sometimes a servant leader must tear down idols.
- Sometimes he/she must lead an army that seems too weak to win the battle.
- Regardless of the assignment, we can always do what we can do knowing that in the eyes of the Angel of the Lord we are mighty men and women of valor.
No comments:
Post a Comment