Familiarity with the account of Gideon may result in a particularly intriguing detail being missed as events moved towards their climax as recorded in Judges 7. As Gideon followed through on God’s directive to “save Israel out of Midian’s hand” (6:14) he ended up leading only a tiny force to face an enemy who were “like swarms of locusts.” He divided his 300 men into three groups surrounding the enemy camp and equipped them with trumpets and empty stone jars containing flamed torches inside. The men were instructed to watch him and follow his actions when they got to the edge of the camp. “When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all round the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon’” (Jdg 7: 17-18). The narrative then described how they subsequently broke those jars, grasping “the torches in their left hands” and blowing the trumpets in their right, also shouting “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon” (Jdg 7:20).

But what needs to be noted in all of this action is that there is no record of God laying out these explicit details to Gideon. This is in contrast to previous events. The details about destroying the altar to Baal were quite specific. Similarly, the ‘sifting’ process that God told Gideon to undertake to reduce his ‘army’ from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men was very precise. Even once those few men had been selected, God then clearly directed him to go down to the enemy camp where the prophetic dream (Jdg 7:13) was overheard, galvanising Gideon into action.

Confidence

Now, however, as events gather pace there was an absence of instructions as to how the Midianites were to be attacked and defeated. It would be strange if such instructions from God were actually omitted from the record since inclusion would have shown Gideon’s dependence upon and faithful obedience to God.

Gideon was now filled with faith – he had complete confidence in God, and was ready to co-operate with him.

However, what can be seen in this scenario, firstly, is that Gideon was now filled with faith – he had complete confidence in God, and was ready to co-operate with him. This emerged having heard the interpretation of that dream (Jdg 7:14): “He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, ‘Get up! God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands’” (Jdg 7:15).

Commonplace

Secondly it should be noted that those ‘weapons’ utilised by Gideon and his men were commonplace articles that would have been readily available. It seems that neither Gideon nor anyone else in his ‘army’ had any military equipment – not a unique situation in the history of Israel (see Jdg 5:8; and 1 Sam 13:19).

A particular way at looking at this situation, and one that can be relevant to ourselves, is to consider God’s equipping of Moses for the leadership role to which he was being called. When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, he directed his focus to the shepherd’s staff that he held. “What is that in your hand?” (Ex 4:2). It was this ordinary stick, God told Moses, that was to be used to authenticate his authority. Notably, it was this staff that he subsequently held over the Red Sea (Ex 14), the same staff with which he struck the rock to provide water for the Israelites, and which he held in his hands to defeat the Amalekites (Ex 17). So it was that other Judges, in carrying out their God-appointed role like Gideon, also used what was commonplace as a means of defeating their enemies. Ehud with his short sword, Shamgar with his ox goad, and both Jair and Abdon with their sons and donkeys (see Judges 3; 10; and 12).

Common sense

Thirdly, a key factor was that those commonplace physical resources were utilised within a framework of tactics designed to terrify and totally confuse the enemy. Both human planning linked together with godly common sense were needed as Gideon co-operated with God. Indeed, this deployment of forces was a tactic used on other occasions when the Israelites embarked on battle (see Jdg 9:43; 1 Sam 11:11; 2 Sam 18:2). Gideon’s resourcing and disposition of his men were clearly the means through which God worked. As a result of those flames, trumpet sounds and battle cries, “the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords” (Jdg 7:22). Total victory ensued and the Israelites experienced peace for the next forty years.

But perhaps more than we may realise, his power comes through provision he has already made.

Whatever issues or situations we are having to confront, we know that God’s power is never lacking. But perhaps more than we may realise, his power comes through provision he has already made, though not yet recognised by us – commonplace resources utilised with godly common sense, based on having confidence in God. Therefore, God’s question (to Moses) may be appropriate to us: “What do you have in your hand?”

Reflection

• How did Gideon’s confidence in God enable him to realise that those commonplace resources were sufficient? How does that apply to us?
• Why did Gideon still need to devise those tactics of surrounding the enemy camp even though he was trusting in God? How is that relevant to us?
• Why is it important to realise that, just like Gideon, God is using us to see his purposes carried out?

For the other studies in this series on Gideon, click here.