Too Many Soldiers
And the Lord said unto Gideon, 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. Judges 7:2.
give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine
own hand hath saved me. Judges 7:2.
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 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 brethrens heart faint as well as his heart (Deuteronomy 20:5-8).
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 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 brethrens 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.
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 Lords direction, and with a heavy heart he saw twenty-two thousand, or
more than two thirds of his entire force, depart for their homes.
more than two thirds of his entire force, depart for their homes.
The Lord is willing to do great things for us. We shall not gain the victory through numbers,
but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in His strength, trusting
in the mighty God of Israel. There is a lesson for us in the story of Gideons army.... The Lord is
just as willing to work through human efforts now, and to accomplish great things through weak
instrumentalities.but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in His strength, trusting
in the mighty God of Israel. There is a lesson for us in the story of Gideons army.... The Lord is
just as willing to work through human efforts now, and to accomplish great things through weak
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