Judges
7:1-8 (NIV) Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men
camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the
valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too
many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may
not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now to the
people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount
Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4 But
the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to
the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go
with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he
shall not go."
5 So
Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate
those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down
to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths.
All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7 The
Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save
you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to
his own place." 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents
but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the
others.
NOTE: Another way to
look at Gideon's question of where are all the wonders (Judges 6:13) is that
Gideon's comment reflected the feeling of the people and not just one
individual. When Gideon questions the wonders, he is merely repeating the
common discussion among the people. That would fit better with verse 7:2 where
God explains his reasoning for reducing the 32,000 men down to 300 men--so that
Israel would not think that her great strength saved her. God wants the people
to realize that the God of wonders is still with them. Gideon, is also guilty
since his actions up to this point have shown a lack of faith. I wonder what
the 300 men thought at that point. I wonder how many wished they had joined the
original 32,000. I wonder what Gideon thought or if the fleece test was
sufficient to calm his worried nerves. A lot of people try to make sense out of
the lapping, as if a person is better suited for war. Really, an argument can
be made both ways. I don't think God was looking for the best warriors so much
as he was just reducing the numbers. Whatever the real answer for why God used
the methods he did, the point remains is that he reduced the size from 32,000
to 300 so that Israel would realize that it was not her strength but rather
God's power which saved her. What is the application? Well, you can do
everything right and you might be the best person for the job, but if it is a
spiritual task and you are not seeking God or honoring God, then the
probability of a disaster or no real value is high.
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