Page 1 of 21 Judges 6:33- Read: Judges 6:33 40 (ESV) 33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them. 36 Then Gideon said to God, If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said. 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. I. Intro: A. In today s story, Gideon will be illustrated as a loaf of barley bread, rolling down a hill and upending an entire Midianite tent. 1. Barley is what the poorest people ate it was also the grain that was generally reserved for the animals.. Chad Page 1 8/23/2015
Page 2 of 21 a) It was, in fact the humblest of grains.. b) And barley bread would be the humblest of breads 2. When Gideon was first approached by the Lord.. a) and he was told that he would save Israel from the Midianites.. (1) He responded by saying that his clan was the weakest in his tribe.. And that he, was the least amongst his father s sons. b) In Mannaseh Gideon s family was the barley bread.. (1) In his family Gideon was the barley bread. B. But in our previous study we saw that his position amongst his family and his tribe did not detour the Lord.. 1. Gideon was still God s man for the job a) And God proved Himself to Gideon Chad Page 2 8/23/2015
Page 3 of 21 (1) And Gideon acted in faith and proved his loyalties to God 2. And as a result a) We saw how one man was changed (1) And he wasn t even a very important man But he was changed.. (b) And as a result, his father was changed (c) And as a result.. (i) His clan his tribe and ultimately his nation would see change. b) In today s study, we see many of these steps being played out. C. A humble candidate, is assured and empowered by the Lord repeatedly.. 1. His actions draw a similar response from others a) And they follow his example (1) And extend to him their loyalties Chad Page 3 8/23/2015
Page 4 of 21 b) And God uses this man, to make the initial assault against the enemy.. c) One which would draw in other men from Israel (1) And one which would lead to the defeat of over 180,000 Midianites. II. In vss. 33-35 the stage is set. A. In a very convenient fashion, the Lord gathers together in one place The Midianites the Amelekites, and the other people of the East who were participating in the oppression of Israel. 1. The people of Israel may have looked upon this gathering and saw their own doom and destruction.. a) But God saw something different (1) This wasn t a gathering of oppressors (2) This was a gathering of opportunity. b) For the same reason you would stack 10 bowling pins at the end of a bowling lane.. (1) God brought these enemies together in one place Chad Page 4 8/23/2015
Page 5 of 21 So that he could take that barely loaf send it down the lane and roll a strike. 2. Now that the enemy was gathered the army around Gideon needed to be gathered.. a) In vs. 34, it says that the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon. (1) The same was said of Zechariah in 2 Chron 24:20-21 -And as a result, he spoke boldly against a people who rejected God And ended up getting stoned for it (2) Similar wording was used for Othneil earlier in chapter 3:10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. (3) The Spirit of the Lord will be upon Jephthah in chapter 11 (4) Even as a child, the Spirit of the Lord will stir in Sampson in chapter 13 (5) And at different times, as he was used by God the Spirit would rush upon him. b) When the Spirit of the Lord clothed, came upon, or rushed upon someone Chad Page 5 8/23/2015
Page 6 of 21 (1) They responded in boldness in power and passion. 3. The man who seemed to be timid and humble early on the story a) Was becoming bold and powerful.. III. Judges 6:36-40 (1) And instead of calling for his death as they did earlier in chapter 6 (2) They were now rallying around him. In vs. 34 his own clan gathered around him.. (b) And in vs. 35 men from his own tribe gathered around him (i) out.. And as the messengers went Men from the tribes to the north of him came, and gathered around him. A. In verses 36-40, we get one of the most popular of all Sunday School stories.. Chad Page 6 8/23/2015
Page 7 of 21 1. In fact, because of this incident, we use the term laying out a fleece to speak of any test we give the Lord to discern His will. a) Should we quit our job and move to Montana? (1) We crumple up a piece of paper and throw it across the room (b) If it goes in the trash can we move If it doesn t we stay.. b) Should we have chicken or fish for dinner.. (1) So we lay out the frozen chicken and the frozen fish.. And we say to the Lord Whichever one thaws first, we will eat it. c) Should I give charitably towards this need? (1) If so, Lord, have a Stevie Wonder song come on the radio 2. And since we want to move to Montana we take 5 tries at that can before we hit it.. a) We declare to our families that the trash can was leading Chad Page 7 8/23/2015
Page 8 of 21 us to the land of cold winters and great trout fishing.. 3. And since we want to eat fish we put out a thin filet next to a whole chicken a) And since we don t really want to give away perfectly good money that we could spend on ourselves (1) We listen to the country music station. B. When we do that kind of stuff 1. It s not really comparable to Gideon a) It s more like the voodoo priest who reads chicken bones and pig guts. (1) Gideon wasn t trying to determine what the Lord s will was. He knew for certain that God was calling him to lead Israel against the Midianites. b) Now, this isn t to say that God will or will not give you a sign (1) But if we are using trash cans and radio songs to confirm whether we should or should not do things Chad Page 8 8/23/2015
Page 9 of 21 Chances are we are going to end up doing what we wanted to do, and our proverbial casting of chicken bones will make us think that God confirmed our decision. 2. Gideon had already experienced miracles he had already declared his intent he had already called for soldiers to come and fight with him a) But now he is struggling with his own faith.. (1) I doubt the incident with the fleece had anything to do with whether Gideon went to fight or not He was going to go, and he was going to see the Lord s victory either way b) But as the people started to come to town and gather around him (1) The reality of the situation kicked in And he struggled (i) We will see in the next chapter in vs. 10 that Gideon was still fearful.. Even as he sent 22,000 fearful men home he was still fearful.. Chad Page 9 8/23/2015
Page 10 of 21 (2) And Gideon brought with humility, and honesty His fear, before the Lord. C. In verse 36 he confesses that he knows that God has said that He would save Israel by Gideon s hand. 1. He knows what God has said.. a) But he s asking for something to bolster his faith (1) And God gives it to him.. Not just here with the fleeces.. (b) But in the next chapter also allowing him to overhear the dream and the interpretation of the Midianites. 2. Has God called you to put away your ambitions of trout fishing and snowmobiling in beautiful Montana and remain faithful where you re at? a) Do you know, that you are to remain but you are struggling with that? (1) Then ask God to bolster your faith.. (b) He may grant you a fleece.. He might not.. Chad Page 10 8/23/2015
Page 11 of 21 (2) But either way if you already know what you are supposed to do.. Then do it. 3. Has God called you give generously to that need which He placed in front of you.. a) And you know that you are going to do it.. (1) But the thought of it is still hard and painful b) Then ask God to bolster your faith (1) He may grant you a fleece.. He might not.. (i) But either way if you already know what you are supposed to do.. Then do it. 4. Gideon s fleece didn t reveal God s will to Gideon.. a) It merely bolstered his faith.. (1) I m fairly certain Gideon knew what he was supposed to do.. And either way he was going to do it. Chad Page 11 8/23/2015
Page 12 of 21 IV. Read: Judges 7:1-8 Judges 7:1 8 (ESV) 7 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, My own hand has saved me. 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead. Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the LORD said to Gideon, The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, This one shall go with you, shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, This one shall not go with you, shall not go. 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink. 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home. 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. A. A fearful man was called to stay even as he sent 22,000 fearful men home. 1. He would still go to battle a) But as we ll see in a while.. Chad Page 12 8/23/2015
Page 13 of 21 (1) Those fearful 22,000 would hear about the miraculous attack.. (2) And they would be called upon later in verse 23 Even the fearful 22,000 would have their faith bolstered and would end up going to do what they had originally come to do. 2. Even with 32,000 men the odds against the Midianite camp was still 6 to 1 a) Every Israelite would have to defeat 6 enemies to gain a victory. 3. Obviously many would be afraid.. a) But for 22,000 men to admit that they were afraid.. (1) That in itself was a miracle.. B. I m sure Gideon was shocked when the Lord told him that 1,000 men was still too many 1. The odds at that point were 32 to 1 a) Every Israelite, would have to defeat 32 enemies. 2. With 1,000 men the stage was still set for a miracle Chad Page 13 8/23/2015
Page 14 of 21 a) But God wasn t planning on defeating these enemies by sending one man after 32 (1) They may have been thinking in terms of fighting and war (2) But God was thinking in terms of a miracle. 3. 1,000 men was too many. a) So the men were sent down to the water to drink (1) And, determined on the way they drank water the numbers were whittled down to 300. I m sure we ve all heard the reasoning behind this (i) Men who lay on their bellies and drink, are not the watchful type (b) But those who kneel and bring water up to their mouth are watchful.. (i) And God wanted Gideon to have good, observant, watchful people with him. (2) Almost every commentary I ve read makes this case.. and I ve heard many a sermons focus in on this situation. Chad Page 14 8/23/2015
Page 15 of 21 b) But there s one problem with this theory.. (1) The Bible is silent on the matter. This appeared to be an arbitrary means to divide up the group. 4. If anything those with bad backs, big bellies, and stiff joints were the ones drawing water up to their mouths from the kneeling position. a) Or maybe God wanted a bunch of guys who didn t want to get their shirts dirty.. (1) Whatever the case Gideon ended up 300 men.. And finally, the stage was set for the miracle that God intended.. V. Judges 7:9-15 Judges 7:9 15 (ESV) 9 That same night the LORD said to him, Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. 11 And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp. Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. 13 When Chad Page 15 8/23/2015
Page 16 of 21 Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat. 14 And his comrade answered, This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp. 15 As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand. A. This is my favorite part of the story 1. Gideon was still fearful a) And even though he wasn t asking God to make the ground wet in a specific way (1) God had decided to bolster his faith anyways. 2. In vs. 9 He told Gideon to go down against the camp a) But the Lord knew he was still struggling.. (1) He had 300 guys looking at him with expectation (2) And they had 32,000 men to defeat.. Suddenly, the odds were 107 to 1 Chad Page 16 8/23/2015
Page 17 of 21 (b) Every Israelite would need to defeat 107 of the enemy. b) In vs. 10 the Lord offered Gideon a freebie fleece (1) You and Purah go down to the camp and hear what they have to say B. When they snuck up on the enemy they heard the story of the barely loaf 1. He heard the Midianites speak of him personally a) And this time they were afraid.. (1) Somehow miraculously these Midianites were feeling the fear and the dread of Gideon s impeding defeat. 2. We don t know this for sure.. a) But I think that these dreams and these interpretations were a common thing in the camp (1) It wasn t just these two guys having dreams and giving interpretations b) The Midianites were already talking about Gideon Chad Page 17 8/23/2015
Page 18 of 21 (1) And dread was in their hearts. C. Gideon s response was praise. 1. He worshipped God right there, in hearing distance of the Midianites.. a) Quietly in the shadow of a great enemy (1) He acknowledged how amazing His God was. VI. Judges 7:16-22 (summarize) A. Somewhere along the lines this plan was devised 1. The Lord had shown Gideon how He was going to give them the victory a) They divided up into three groups of 100 2. They each had a trumpet which essentially was just a ram s horn a) They each had a clay pot, in which, they hid their torch so they could approach unseen. B. Then as they positioned themselves in three places around the camp 1. It all started with Gideon s group Chad Page 18 8/23/2015
Page 19 of 21 VII. a) They broke their pots they lifted their torches and they yelled (1) A sword fore the LORD and for Gideon. 2. Now these men of Israel would fight they would bring their swords against the enemy a) But not initially (1) This camp turned on itself in great fear and confusion (2) They woke up to sounds unlike any they had ever heard before (b) And they looked up They were surrounded (i) And in the shouts they heard the name Yahweh Gideon And they heard the name b) They turned on themselves (1) And those who survived ran. Conclusion A. Next week we ll pick up at verse 32 Chad Page 19 8/23/2015
Page 20 of 21 1. The fearful were called back a) And the men of Ephraim were called out.. (1) And Israel pursued and defeated the enemy.. 2. But all of that it s just a matter of housekeeping.. a) The real battle started here.. (1) And God was the one who brought the victory. B. In closing.. 1. Allow me to highlight this one point.. a) You probably know what God wants you to do. (1) You don t need to throw wads of paper at a trash can or wait for a Stevie Wonder song to come on the radio.. b) The Christian walk is filled with opportunities to step out in faith. 2. Normally we know how we are supposed to step a) As we see with Gideon God is not opposed to your fleece.. Chad Page 20 8/23/2015
Page 21 of 21 (1) He is the God who bolsters the faith of the fearful. b) Today, I challenge you to ask for just that.. (1) Ask for your God to overcome your fear and give you the strength and faith that you need.. To take your step of faith. Chad Page 21 8/23/2015