Gideon's Strange Battle Plan

Actually it's more like God's Strange Battle Plan for Gideon...

Recap: In chapter 6, we saw Israel sin, Israel enslaved, Israel crises out to God, and God raises up a judge.

Read verse 1:  Remember what "Jeruabbaal" means and who it refers to? (He who contends with Baal... it's another name for Gideon.)

Read verse 2: Why does God say there are too many people? (There are still too many people for it to be clear that He delivered them from the Midianites and so they might boast.)
Read verse 3: Who leaves and why? (22,000 men, because they're scared)

"Positive morale is one of the most critical weapons in a soldier's arsenal... fear and insecurity can spread like wildfire in a group and [will hinder] success." -P. Shirer (Gideon p78)

Read verses 4-7: further whittled down by the way they drank water... 300 bringing water to their mouth would've been more alert to danger around them... may or may not be part of why
Read verse 8: so the 31,700 go home and the 300 prepare to fight
Read verse 9-11: God knew Gideon would want proof of what He said, so He gives him and option. Gideon takes the option because, of course, he's scared.

Read verses 12-15: huge camp and Gideon happens to come upon a man telling his friend about a dream. What was the dream? (bread tumbling into a tent) What did the dream mean? (Gideon's going to win) How did Gideon respond? (in worship to God)

Read verses 16-18:  What's the battle plan?

1. light a torch and cover it with a pitcher.
2. surround camp at night
3. break pitchers, blow trumpets, and shout "for the Lord and for Gideon"

"...the Lord's explicit aim in reducing the troops earlier was to ensure that the credit due Him would not be usurped by another..." (Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, G. Wong p223)

Read verses 19-20: They carry out Gideon's instructions (blinding light and loud noise). Does it work?

Read verses 21-22: YES! The Midianites turn on each other in their confusion.
Read verse 23:  some fled and were pursued

Read verses 24-25: Tribe of Ephriam (who hadn't been involved in the fighting) capture then kill two Midianite leaders and bring Gideon their heads. More on Ephriam next week...

Application:

• Obey even when it doesn't make sense to you. (They went to battle with trumpets and torches, not swords and shields.)  
• God is working things together for good, like it says in Romans 8:28. (It wasn't just coincidence that Gideon happened to overhear the dream. There were thousands of men that he could have overheard.)
• God can handle your doubt. He even expects it. (He offered Gideon a test knowing he was going to be scared and want it.)

**All Scripture is quotes from the New American Standard.
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I'm currently teaching on the book of Judges for the youth group Sunday school class. We normally spend half our time playing a game and the other half studying the Bible. These are my lessons and some funny tidbits that happen during the course of the morning.