Fearless and Ready

"The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, "My own power has delivered me." Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, "Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead."' So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, "This one shall go with you," he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, "This one shall not go with you," he shall not go.' So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, 'You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.' Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. The Lord said to Gideon, 'I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.'" -Judges 7.2-7

The army has been assembled, and they are ready to go to war, but they are still greatly outnumbered. Verse 12 describes the enemy like locusts covering the valley, with camels as numerous as the sand on the sea shore. But these 32,000 brave Israelites have God on their side, so they prepare for battle. But there is a problem, God says the force is too large. If Gideon leads these men into battle they will win, because God is going to deliver them, but they would become boastful, saying they did it themselves.

God is saving His people so that they will act like His people. If they take the credit they will end up right back in oppression like they are now. So God cuts the army by allowing all who are afraid to go home. Over two thirds of the men leave, but it is still too great a force. God again cuts the army down from 10,000 to 300.

The warriors God chooses are the ones who stay ready and alert. They bring the water to their mouths so that they can still observe their surroundings. If an attack came while down by water, these men would be ready to fight. And here we find the original 300. God takes a sizable army and cuts it down to 300 fearless and ready men.

Men, would you make the cut? Twenty-two thousand men went home because they were afraid of going into battle with God. Another 9,700 were dismissed because they dropped their guard in battle preparation. Only 300 had the faith to courageously trust God and the discipline to stay alert at all times. Only 300 out out 32,000 made the cut. Would you? Do you have the courage to trust God against an overwhelming enemy? Do you have the discipline to stay alert and ready for an attack at all times?

Let us be men who make the cut. Let us be part of the 300 warriors fit for God's service. Let us be fearless and ready.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Mt. Moreh (verse 1)



Mt. Moreh and part of the Jezreel Valley (verse 12)