“The Major Judges: Gideon”

 “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.” (Judges 6:1)

The Judge Gideon

“7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.” (Judges 6:7-10)

God chooses the least to demonstrate to the powerful how strong God is. Judge Gideon is threshing wheat by the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

An Angel of the Lord appears to Judge Gideon. Just as Moses had done, Judge Gideon needs reassurance that God is indeed with him. Judge Gideon knows his family is poor, and Judge Gideon is the most poor of his family.

Judge Gideon provides a sacrifice as the Angel of the Lord told him. In Judge Gideon’s sight the Angel of the Lord causes the sacrifice to burn with fire. God orders Judge Gideon to destroy the altar to Baal and cut down the grove that was beside the altar.

That night Judge Gideon builds an altar on the rock that the Angel of the Lord had commanded him for the first sacrifice. Now sacrificing the bullock of his father, using the wood from the grove, Judge Gideon sends a message to the Midianites. A sure sign of rebellion against the Midianites.

The Midianites begin to form an army to destroy Judge Gideon and his people. Judge Gideon is guided by the spirit of the Lord to sound his trumpet and send messengers to form with him an army.

Judge Gideon is still not convinced he is doing the right thing. So he prays to God, to show him a sign. So, Judge Gideon puts a rug of wool in his tent and says to God, “If by morning the fleece only is covered in dew, I will know you will deliver Israel by my hand”(paraphrase of Judges 6:37)

The next morning Judge Gideon wrings out the fleece and gathers a bowl of water. Still not convinced, he once again asks God to make dew on the ground, but not on the fleece. The next morning Judge Gideon has his assurance. The fleece is dry, while the ground is covered in dew.

Judge Gideon’s Army

When Judge Gideon’s Army has formed the Lord said, “You have too many people in your army”(paraphrase of Judges 7:2) Judge Gideon sent 22,000 people home leaving him with an army of 10,000.

God says, ” 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7:5-7)

Judge Gideon’s Plan From God

Judge Gideon and his servant spied on the Midianite camp and heard them tell of a dream. One Midianite said he had a dream, ” there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.” (Judges 7:13)

Another Midianite interpreted the dream, “And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.”(Judges 7:14)

Judge Gideon split his forces into 3 companies of 100 men each. Each man had a trumpet and a lit lamp inside a pitcher.

Put yourself in this situation. The Midianites have a huge army like grasshoppers. It is dark and they are already fearful of the battle that may ensue. Suddenly out of the darkness 300 trumpets sound from every direction and lamps suddenly appear! The Midianites flee in fear.

Judge Gideon’s army that had returned to their tents now chased after the Midianites capturing two Midianite princes that they killed.

Judge Gideon’s Chase

Throughout the night Judge Gideon chases after the Midianite Kings. When he arrives at Succoth, “5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”(Judges 8:5-7)

Judge Gideon continues the chase to Penuel.

“8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”(Judges 8:8-9)

Judge Gideon captures the Kings of Midian and returns to Succoth. He discovers the elders of Succoth and beats them with briars. He returns to Penuel and destroys them.

Israel Wants Gideon As King

“22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.” (Judges 8:22-23)

Stay Tuned…