By Steve A. Hamilton

Judges 7:2-8

Introduction: We are all familiar with this story.  How God took 32,000 men of Israel and sifted them down to 300.  How God took these 300 men to fight against an army “as numerous as locusts” and prevailed.

          What lessons can we learn from the events that took place in the days of Gideon? 

I.  Obedience to His word.

          A.  The children of Israel were disobedient to God (Judges 6:1, 10).  Sin separated God from them for seven years.

          B.  If we don’t keep God’s commands, we too are separated from God (1 John 2:3-7).

          B.  Things got so bad that the enemies of Israel (Midianites and Amalekites) made constant raids on the land destroying their crops and stealing their animals. The people were scattered living in caves and strongholds in the mountains.  They were also impoverished.  We are introduced to Gideon as he is threshing grain in a winepress just so the raiders could not see what he was doing.      

II. The humble shall be exalted.

          A. Gideon was from the smallest tribe and the least in his family (Judges 6:15).

          B.  Christ taught this principle (Matt. 23:11-12).

          C.  Not only did God use the lowest person in Israel for such a great accomplishment but God used the least men possible to accomplish what an Army normally requires. 

III. We walk by faith.

          A. Gideon wasn’t sure God was with Israel (Judges 6:13, 16).

          B.  Gideon needed proof (Judges 6:36-40).  

          C.  We need proof as well when it comes to things spiritual (1 John 4:1).

          D.  When proof is provided faith is established (Rom. 10:17).  It is from that moment on that we walk by faith.  “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). 

IV. Quality is more important than quantity.

          A.  Despite the fact the Lord reduced the combatants down to 300 men; Gideon never again wavered in the Lord.

          B.  We too should have the faith that though the odds are against us, we can prevail (Rom. 8:31).  We know the truth (Mark 10:27).

          C. Despite the fact there will be few saved in the end, we can prevail (Matt. 7:13-14)!

V.  When we are weak we are made strong.

          A.  There is no normal way that a Army of 300 can overcome odds possibly as great as 500:1.   Yet, in the weakness of the odds, the Lord provided the strength to prevail.

          B.  We too are at our best when we are weak (1 Cor. 1:21-27).  Did God chose Gideon to confound the mighty?

          C.  Paul recognized this simple truth even in his physical life (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Conclusion:  These lessons from Gideon are sometimes hard to accept.  Gideon had lessons in faith, weakness, humility, obedience and quality.  We too struggle in matters relating to these same subjects. How many people have you seen lose faith?  How many times have you heard might makes right?  How many disobedient people do you know?  We need to pay attention to these lessons in our daily lives.  Perhaps there is someone here who hasn’t… 

Last modified: 05/02/08