Judges 7:1 - Meaning and Application

Here, Gideon did everything he could, like a good commander, to lead Israel against the Midianites (Judges 7:1). He rose early, because his mind was fixed on the task and he did not want to waste time. Now that he knew God was with him, he was eager to act. He camped near a well, so his army would have water, and he took the higher ground, which may also have helped him since the Midianites were below in the valley.

Faith in God’s promises should not make us less active. It should make us more diligent. When we know God goes before us, we should stir ourselves to action (2 Samuel 5:24). At the same time, God made sure the glory for the coming victory would belong to him alone by choosing only 300 men for the work.

The army had 32,000 men, which was small compared with the Midianite force. Gideon may have thought even that number was too few, but God told him they were too many (Judges 7:2). The men who came willingly did well, but God chose not to use all who were available. In Scripture, God often does great things with a small number of people, but here he purposely made the army smaller.

If Deborah had recently blamed those who did not come to help the Lord, why should some who did come now be sent away? The answer is that God had several purposes. First, he wanted to show that he did not need human help. He can do his work without depending on people, so people owe their service to him, not the other way around. Second, he wanted to shame those who had been afraid to resist the Midianites because they thought the enemy was too strong. Now they could see that, if they had trusted God, one Israelite could have chased a thousand.

Third, God wanted to stop boasting. He said plainly that he reduced the army “lest Israel boast against me” and claim credit for itself. Those who receive deliverance must never say, “My own hand has saved me.” Anyone who glories should glory in the Lord, and all human pride must fall silent before him.

God reduced the army in two ways. First, he ordered all who were afraid and faint-hearted to go home (Judges 7:3). They were camped on a mountain near the enemy, and they could likely see the great size of the Midianite force. Those who were discouraged by what they saw were free to leave. A law had already been given for such a proclamation before battle (Deuteronomy 20:8). Gideon may have thought that rule applied only to wars for expanding Israel’s land, not to a war of defense, but he would not have made the proclamation unless God had commanded it.

Cowards were just as likely as anyone else to claim the honor of the victory afterward, so God would not use them. One might expect hardly any Israelite to admit fear against such an enemy and under such a leader as Gideon. Yet more than two-thirds left. They looked at the strength of the enemy and their own weakness, and they did not trust the assurance of God’s presence that their commander had received and probably passed on to them. Some think long oppression had broken their courage. More likely, their sense of guilt had taken away their bravery. Sin stood before them, and so they did not dare to face death. Fearful, weak-hearted people are not fit for God’s work, and there are more such people among those who follow Christ than we may think.

Second, God sent away all except 300 men, and he did it by a sign: “The people are still too many for me to use” (Judges 7:4). This shows how far above our thoughts God’s ways are. Gideon probably thought even 10,000 or so would be too few, though Barak had faced Sisera with fewer men (Judges 4:14). If Gideon had not already been strengthened by faith, he might have turned back from so dangerous a mission. But God said they were still too many. Even after the army was cut down to a third, it was still too large for God’s purpose. This can help us understand providences that seem to weaken the church and its work, because sometimes God reduces the number, strength, or wisdom of his people so that his own power will be seen more clearly.

Gideon was told to bring the soldiers to the water, probably the well of Harod (Judges 7:1), and watch how they drank. All of them were thirsty and wanted a drink. He likely told them they must be ready for action right away, so they should refresh themselves and then expect to drink the blood of their enemies instead. Some would kneel and drink in the normal way, putting their mouths to the water like horses. Others would drink quickly, scooping water with their hands and lapping it up like a dog, then moving on. There were 300 men in this latter group, and by them God said he would defeat the Midianites (Judges 7:7).

By the first test, God kept only men who were willing and resolved to fight hard for Israel’s freedom. By this second test, he chose only men who were also hardy and alert. They could bear strain without complaining of thirst or weariness. They had no trace of laziness or luxury in them. They were also eager, wanting to get to the enemy at once and putting God’s service and their country ahead of their own comfort. These are the kinds of people God chooses to use, those who are not only willing, but keen to do what is good. And because they were the smaller number, and the least likely to succeed by human judgment, God would use them to save Israel.

It was a great test of Gideon’s faith and courage when God told him to let everyone except these 300 men go home. In effect, they were to leave his call and command, and go wherever they pleased. We may suppose that those who still cared about the cause did not go so far away that they could not hear the fight and come in after the first blow, though the text does not say this.

So Gideon’s army was strangely cleaned out, shaped, and reduced, instead of being increased, as we would expect for such a serious battle. Now let us look at how this small and unimpressive group, on whom the whole battle would rest, was equipped. If these 300 had been doubled with servants and helpers, and had more swords and spears, we would think they had a better chance to succeed.

But their gear was made less useful, not more. Every soldier had to carry his own food in his hand, leaving bag and baggage behind. That was a test of their faith, because they had to trust God without more supplies than they could carry. It was also a test of their diligence, to see whether they would carry enough for their needs. This was truly living from hand to mouth.

Every soldier also became a trumpeter. The men who were sent away left their trumpets behind for these 300, who were given trumpets instead of weapons of war, as if they were going to a game rather than a battle.