March 10, 2014 - Monday

Start Time: 5:19 A.M.

End Time: 5:45 A.M.

Title: Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Scripture: Judges 7:1 – 25

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ 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. The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out 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.”  So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of themdrank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 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 others go home.” ⁸ So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

NOTES:

Ø God wants all the glory from what He does!  He works in ways that our contradicting to our own understanding that we may see His power in action and that we give Him all the glory He deserves!  His ways will never allow us to boast of our own effort but only boast of His might.  Many times, God works in ways that seem to be impossible in our eyes so that we can believe the truth that nothing is impossible to Him and we offer Him all the glory and honor He deserves!  So in our lives, we ought to give Him the glory at all times because our minds may not understand it because of its limits but God mighty works turn the impossible possible!

→Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.  If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.  Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”  When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.  “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

NOTES:

Ø God knows our doubts and provides us encouragement to overcome it!  Before Gideon felt his doubts, God already provided him a solution to overcome it.  God instructed Gideon what to do and provided the solution to his doubts and fears so that Gideon can lead God’s people to victory.  The Lord sees our hearts even before we feel it.  We are His creations and He knows every response, reaction, thought, or actions we make ahead.  He is always multiple steps ahead of us and that’s why we can be assured that He has given us the answer even before we realize our questions.  Hallelujah!

Ø God uses our enemies to motivate us to win over them!  God told Gideon to go down to the outposts of the camp and there he heard what his enemies were talking about and his enemies words brought so much passion and encouragement in Gideon’s heart to attack them, again this is something our natural mind cannot comprehend – using the enemy to empower us!  This is an act that only the Lord can orchestrate and no one else!  Praise to Jesus!  It’s great to know that even our enemies can be used for us to fight and win over them!  What a great God!

→ Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torchesin their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.  When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.  Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.  They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

NOTES:

Ø God works even during battle to ensure all glory belongs to Him!  God is a great God!  He does not only encourages and provide us the ability to fulfill His will but He fights with us and for us!  Even during battle, God caused the Midianites to turn each other with their swords.  Even in our battles, God’s works is evident…we just need to see it and give Him all the glory.  So glory to the King of Kings!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, precious God and mighty warrior!  You truly, deserves all glory and praise.  Everything in our lives, Your handprint is always evident but many times, we fail to see it.  Lord I apologize that at times, I forget to recognize Your work in my life.  Open my eyes Lord that I may see Your hand working in my life every day and that I can give You all glory and honor.  Lord thank You because You know me well.  You know my feelings, my questions, my thoughts and even before we have our fears and doubts, You have provided us solutions already to win over them.  Thank You because at times, You use our enemies to empower and encourage us to fight and become victorious in the battles we face.  Thank you Lord because You never leave us nor forsake us.  Your work does not end after encouraging and empowering us, You fight with us and cause our troubles or enemies to turn against themselves so we can completely attain victory over them.  Thank You Lord!  Praise You and all glory belongs to You and You alone.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!