Pray for POTUS and pray for Q!

Gideon dared not place himself at the head of the army without

still further evidence that God had called him to his work, and that

He would be with him. He prayed, “If Thou wilt save Israel by mine

hand, as Thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the

floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the

earth besides, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine

hand, as Thou hast said.” In the morning the fleece was wet, while

the ground was dry. But now a doubt arose, since wool naturally

absorbs moisture when there is any in the air; the test might not be

decisive. Hence he asked that the sign be reversed, pleading that

his extreme caution might not displease the Lord. His request was

granted.

Thus encouraged, Gideon led out his forces to give battle to the

invaders. “All the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children

of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in

the valley of Jezreel.” The entire force under Gideon’s command

numbered only thirty-two thousand men; but with the vast host of

the enemy spread out before him, the word of the Lord came to

him: “The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give

the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against

Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore go to,

proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and

afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead.” Those

who were unwilling to face danger and hardships, or whose worldly

interests would draw their hearts from the work of God, would add

no strength to the armies of Israel. Their presence would prove only

a cause of weakness.

It had been made a law in Israel that before they went to battle the

following proclamation should be made throughout the army: “What

man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it?

let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and

another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a [549]

vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto

his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And

what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her?

let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and

another man take her.” And the officers were to speak further to the

people, saying, “What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted?

let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint

as well as his heart.” Deuteronomy 20:5-8.

Because his numbers were so few compared with those of the

enemy, Gideon had refrained from making the usual proclamation.

He was filled with astonishment at the declaration that his army was

too large. But the Lord saw the pride and unbelief existing in the

hearts of His people. Aroused by the stirring appeals of Gideon,

they had readily enlisted; but many were filled with fear when they

saw the multitudes of the Midianites. Yet, had Israel triumphed,

those very ones would have taken the glory to themselves instead of

ascribing the victory to God.

Gideon obeyed the Lord’s direction, and with a heavy heart he

saw twenty-two thousand, or more than two thirds of his entire force,

depart for their homes. Again the word of the Lord came to him:

“The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and

I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto

thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of

whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same

shall not go.” The people were led down to the waterside, expecting

to make an immediate advance upon the enemy. A few hastily took

a little water in the hand and sucked it up as they went on; but nearly

all bowed upon their knees, and leisurely drank from the surface of

the stream. Those who took of the water in their hands were but

three hundred out of ten thousand; yet these were selected; all the

rest were permitted to return to their homes.

By the simplest means character is often tested. Those who in

time of peril were intent upon supplying their own wants were not

the men to be trusted in an emergency. The Lord has no place in

His work for the indolent and self-indulgent. The men of His choice

were the few who would not permit their own wants to delay them

in the discharge of duty. The three hundred chosen men not only

possessed courage and self-control, but they were men of faith. They

had not defiled themselves with idolatry. God could direct them, and

through them He could work deliverance for Israel. Success does

not depend upon numbers. God can deliver by few as well as by

many. He is honored not so much by the great numbers as by the

character of those who serve Him.

Pray for POTUS and pray for Q!