The story of Gideon in Judges 6-8 reveals the power of God at work in the lives of His people and how victory belongs to Him alone. God’s call on Gideon’s life demonstrates how the Lord often chooses what is weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Why would God choose to drastically limit the number of Gideon’s soldiers in battle? How does God’s provision in this story point to an even greater salvation—our hope in Christ?
Once again, the Israelites had committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord allowed the Midianites to rule over His people as a consequence for their sin. Yet, God again acted mercifully as He responded to their cries for deliverance in the face of oppression. God graciously sent a prophet to His people to remind them of the faithful love He had shown them since their days in Egypt. He urged them to remember His covenant with His people.
God called Gideon to be a judge for the Israelites and to deliver them from Midian. Not wanting His people to claim victory on behalf of their own strength, God told Gideon to pare down his troops. God showed His power by limiting the Israelites’ manpower in battle. This way, they could only attribute their victory to the Lord’s goodness on their behalf. Gideon and his army of 300 had no logical way of winning a battle against so many Midianite troops. Yet, God proved He is Lord over creation and the One who pursues His people and delivers them unto Himself.
God provided salvation to His people by delivering them from the hand of the Midianites, but even more, He has provided eternal deliverance to all who trust in His Son for salvation. In the battle against sin and death, we—like the Israelites—have no means of securing victory on our own. Yet through Jesus, the battle is already won. Lead boys and girls to see God’s ability to make a way where there is no way, as well as His heart for sinners who deserve death. May the children walk forward in faith, trusting in the Lord for His victory over sin and death.
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