Judges 7:1-20
Gideon was a true man of God, a mighty man of valor, and the Lord was with him. God wanted to use him to save Israel from the Midianites. The Midianites were a huge company of people that had destroyed everything that Israel possessed, greatly impoverishing them. Many times, in our life situations, we can feel like we have been treated unfairly by a big bully! It can leave us discouraged and open to advice from everyone. Even Gideon was discouraged at first, asking, "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" But we have to remember that God is over all things. God wanted to reveal Himself as the ONLY one who brings true deliverance and peace to your souls. God led Gideon to bring down all the places of false worship and whatever was not God's way of handling a situation. God called Gideon to "build an altar to the Lord his God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement." God had a plan, a battle array that was to be set, and a way to lead the people, which in the world's eyes, looked very pathetic.
The Spirit of the Lord then came upon Gideon, and when he blew the trumpet of leadership, as God's anointed, many gathered behind him. However, God wasn't looking for support groups that are all talk, and come with all of their hugs and bad advice. Secondly, God sent away all of those who were fearful of confrontation. And finally, He sent away all who would bow down to their own self image. Only those who were alert to the fact that there is an enemy of the soul, and were willing to receive their marching orders from the Captain's hand, were retained to fight the enemy of God, by His direction. The cross of Jesus Christ stands on top of the rock for all to see, as our battle banner. "Onward Christian Soldiers...forward into battle!" As strange as it sounds, by God's direction, Gideon put a trumpet into every man's hand, with an empty pitcher and a torch inside the pitcher. And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise; watch and when I come to the edge of the camp, you shall do as I do; when I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp and say, 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!'" (vss. 17,18) So they did as he did. Next, he blew the trumpet and broke the pitcher that was in his hand, and they did the same—crying, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" (vs. 20b)
That day, a little church fought a great battle God's way, as one man, together in Christ. They didn't use weapons, law suits, muscle, money, tears, or bitter words. It started with one man, who was called by God, to lead those who would follow to victory in Christ, as broken vessels, lit with the Holy Spirit's fire, and sounding a clear message... "MAY JESUS CHRIST BE PRAISED!"
~ Ruth Ann Ward
