Three Hundred Men, One God: Gideon’s Victory

In the days of the Judges, the people of Israel faced great oppression. For seven years, they were ruled by the Midianites*, whose raiding bands devastated the land, stealing crops, livestock, and destroying everything in their path. The Israelites were driven to such fear and desperation that they sought refuge in caves and strongholds in the mountains, hiding from their oppressors. It was in this time of hardship, when it seemed like all hope was lost, that God decided to raise up a leader—one who would restore Israel’s courage and faith. That leader would be Gideon.

Gideon was anything but an obvious choice. When we first encounter him, he’s hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat, not out in the open where it would be easier to complete the task. The winepress was not the ideal place for such work—threshing wheat was meant to be done in a more open area, where the wind could separate the grain from the chaff. But because of the fear of the Midianites, Gideon had taken his work underground, literally and figuratively. He wasn’t a warrior, nor was he a leader by any worldly standard. He was an ordinary man, scared for his life, trying to make ends meet in a time of great oppression.

Then, in the midst of his fear and uncertainty, something extraordinary happened. An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and greeted him with these words: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” The irony of this statement is palpable. Here was Gideon, hiding in a winepress, far from being a mighty warrior. In fact, he could not have been further from the image of a strong, fearless leader. But this is where God’s perspective is so different from ours. God saw what Gideon didn’t see. He saw the potential within him, a potential that had nothing to do with Gideon’s current circumstances or abilities, but everything to do with God’s purpose and strength.

Naturally, Gideon was confused and skeptical. He questioned the angel, asking, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our ancestors told us about? Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?” Gideon’s doubt was not just about his own inadequacy but about the apparent absence of God’s power in the current situation. His people were suffering, and it seemed like God had forgotten them.

But the angel’s response was simple: “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” This was a pivotal moment in Gideon’s journey, and it’s a turning point for many of us when we hear God’s call. Gideon’s focus had to shift from the overwhelming reality of his circumstances to the one thing that mattered: God’s calling on his life. In this moment, God didn’t tell Gideon to worry about everything else, nor did He reassure him about his own abilities. Instead, God simply called Gideon to trust and step forward with the strength that he had, no matter how small or insufficient it seemed.

Still uncertain, Gideon asked for a sign from God, something tangible that would assure him that this was indeed God’s will. He wasn’t being stubborn or rebellious—he was simply wrestling with his fear and doubt. So, Gideon laid out a fleece on the ground and asked God to make the fleece wet with dew while the ground around it remained dry. God answered his request, and yet, even with this miraculous sign, Gideon, still unsure, asked for one more confirmation. This time, he requested the opposite: that the fleece be dry and the ground wet with dew. God, in His patience and grace, honored this second request as well, providing Gideon with the assurance he needed.

Despite his doubts and his fears, Gideon took the next step in obedience. He began to gather an army to fight the Midianites, but this is where God’s plan took a surprising turn. Gideon must have felt a sense of relief as he saw the size of his army growing—32,000 men in total. Surely, this was enough to defeat the enemy. But then, God spoke to him, telling him that the army was too large. God knew that if Israel won with such a large number, they would boast in their own strength and not give glory to God. So, God instructed Gideon to reduce the army. The first test was simple: tell anyone who was afraid to go home. That alone cut the number of soldiers down to 10,000.

But God wasn’t finished yet. He told Gideon that there were still too many men. He instructed him to take the remaining soldiers to a stream and have them drink. Those who knelt down and drank from the water like dogs were chosen, while those who cupped the water in their hands and lapped it like humans were sent home. After this second reduction, Gideon was left with just 300 men. 300 men to face an enemy army that was so vast it was described as being like locusts on the ground, with camels as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

This is where the real test of focus and faith began for Gideon. It must have seemed impossible. How could 300 men possibly defeat an army that outnumbered them so greatly? It was a moment of absolute vulnerability. But in this moment, Gideon’s focus had to shift entirely. It was no longer about the number of soldiers or the strength of his army. It was about God. It was about trusting that God’s plan was greater than any fear or doubt. Gideon couldn’t rely on his own strength or the size of his army; he had to focus on one thing: the calling that God had placed on him and the promise that God was with him.

With just 300 men, Gideon went into battle. But the strategy God gave him wasn’t what anyone would have expected. Instead of using traditional weapons of war, God instructed Gideon to arm his men with trumpets, torches, and clay jars. They were to surround the Midianite camp at night, break the jars, blow their trumpets, and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” The sudden noise and the sight of the torches caused chaos and confusion within the enemy camp. The Midianites, disoriented and terrified, turned on each other in panic, and the victory was won. God delivered Israel through the faith and obedience of one man—Gideon—and 300 faithful soldiers.

The story of Gideon is a profound reminder of the importance of focus and obedience to God’s calling. Gideon didn’t have to be perfect or have all the answers. In fact, he was deeply flawed and unsure. But his story demonstrates that God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. When Gideon focused on the one thing God had called him to do, trusting God for everything he needed, victory came. It wasn’t in his ability or the strength of his army, but in his faithfulness to God’s plan.

God’s call to Gideon was not about getting everything right or being the strongest leader; it was about obedience, about focusing on what God had called him to, and trusting in God’s strength. In our own lives, we are often called to focus on the one thing God has placed before us. It might feel overwhelming, and we might feel inadequate, but the key is to trust God with it. Whether it’s a dream, a calling, a challenge, or a relationship, when we focus on what God has called us to do and trust in His plan, He will provide everything we need to accomplish it.

Just like Gideon, we might feel small and ill-equipped at times, but when we step forward in faith and focus on God’s calling, we will see His power at work in ways we never imagined.

 So as Gideon stood for God, so can we... keeping our candles lit and our lanterns filled with oil... because THE KING IS COMING SOON!

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*The Midianites were descendants of Midian, who was one of Abraham's sons. Midian’s mother was Keturah, Abraham’s second wife after Sarah’s death. The Bible mentions the Midianites in several places, and they were often seen as nomadic people living in the desert regions of what is now modern-day Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and parts of the Sinai Peninsula. 

It is such a sad thing to see family (here, via Abraham) at each other's throats to negatively!