We’re coming to the end of Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites and the eastern kings. It’s an amazing story of God’s power and deliverance.
What I want you to remember is that this isn’t just an interesting story that’s told in children’s Sunday School classes, but it is a look at God’s heart and desire to intervene in the lives of His people.
Gideon’s army of 300 men should have been easily defeated. He had every reason to fear but God never left him to his own abilities. We pick up the story in Judges chapter 7.
“Gideon’s army camp was on top of a hill overlooking the Midianite camp in the valley.
9 That night, the Lord said to Gideon. “Get up! Attack the Midianite camp. I am going to let you defeat them, 10 but if you’re still afraid, you and your servant Purah should sneak down to their camp. 11 When you hear what the Midianites are saying, you’ll be brave enough to attack.” Judges 7:8-11 CEV
From the top of the hill where they were camped Gideon and his men could see the enemy camp. There were men and camels as far as the eye could see.
” 12 The camp was huge. The Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern nations covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. And it would be easier to count the grains of sand on a beach than to count their camels.” verse 12
Gideon was able to sneak up on two guards of the camp and overheard this conversation:
“Your dream must have been about Gideon, the Israelite commander. It means God will let him and his army defeat the Midianite army and everyone else in our camp.” verse 14
Gideon went back to his camp, divided his men into three groups of 100. He gave each man a trumpet and a torch concealed in a clay pot. Trumpets were used to sound the attack and torches would light their way. Gideon told them to wait for him to blow his trumpet and smash the jar holding the light and then they should follow suit.
“ The rest of Gideon’s soldiers blew the trumpets they were holding in their right hands. Then they smashed the jars and held the burning torches in their left hands. Everyone shouted, “Fight with your swords for the Lord and for Gideon!”
21 The enemy soldiers started yelling and tried to run away. Gideon’s troops stayed in their positions surrounding the camp 22 and blew their trumpets again. As they did, the Lord made the enemy soldiers pull out their swords and start fighting each other.” verses 20-22
Gideon’s men stayed in their places while confusion reigned in the enemy camp and they turned on one another; killing those in their encampment. When the enemy fled, Gideon pursued. Gideon sent messengers to the surrounding villages to come help in the fight. That day, the Bible says, over 120,000 of their enemies were killed.
I can’t help but remember different times in the Bible when trumpets were blown and other enemies were overcome. The trumpet sound was a sound of deliverance.
We who are followers of Christ should not fear. We are waiting for the sound of the trumpet.
“It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. ” I Corinthians 15:52 CEV
Victory is ours in Christ.
