Lesson 193 - Senior
Memory Verse
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" II Timothy 2:4).
Cross References
I The Rejected Army
1. Gideon and all the people arose early to prepare for the battle, [JUG:7:1]; [JOS:3:1]; [JOS:6:12].
2. God rejected most of Gideon's army, lest they vaunt themselves, [JUG:7:2]; [1SM:14:6]; [2CH:14:11]; [1CO:1:27-29]; [2CO:4:7].
3. All who were fearful and afraid returned home, [JUG:7:3]; [DEU:20:8]; [REV:21:8].
II God's Chosen Band
1. The Lord said that the 10,000 soldiers who remained were still too many, [JUG:7:4]; [1SM:16:7]; [PS:33:16].
2. The Lord made a division in the army, [JUG:7:5-6].
3. Victory was promised through the 300 men, [JUG:7:7]; [ISA:41:14-16].
4. The band of 300 prepared themselves for battle, [JUG:7:8]; [NUM:10:9].
Notes
Thirty-two Thousand Men
The Spirit of the Lord had come upon Gideon, and he blew the trumpet of war that Israel might be gathered after him against the Midianite invaders. The Children of Israel had suffered much in the hands of this enemy, and many seemed willing to answer Gideon's call. The 32,000 soldiers were gathered with their captain and pitched camp beside the well of Harod, a situation that placed them on high ground overlooking the hosts of the Midianites who were pitched in the valley. However, something was wrong in Gideon's camp. God knew it immediately, and no doubt Gideon knew it also: there was great fear in the hearts of many of the people, and the Lord knew that many of the soldiers would vaunt themselves against Him. The well of Harod, a name meaning trembling or terror, possibly received this name from this circumstance of fear in the hearts of the Children of Israel.
There is not continual terror in the hearts of men who call themselves God's soldiers. The work of God calls for faith in God and an obedience to Him. Faith in God is of far greater value to the human soul than all wealth, influence, knowledge, or power that the world affords. Fear is the direct opposite of faith; therefore, fear must be put out of the way. If a man cannot cast fear out of his heart through the help of God, then that man will find himself cast out of God's service. Fear bolts the door of a man's heart, so that when God would work, He finds the only channel through which he can operate in man closed against Him. The greater the amount of fear in a heart, the tighter is the door of faith shut against God.
The Rejected Battalion
Little wonder, then, that God would direct Gideon to proclaim in the ears of the people, "Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead." This proclamation was according to the Law of Moses: "The officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, 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 20:8). Fear, terror, and faintheartedness are as contagious in the ranks of Christian soldiers as they are in any other walk of life; and, if for no other reason, God would weed them out Christian soldier, do not expose yourself to these soul-destroying elements.
Another reason for God's dismissing these men was that they might be prevented from taking credit unto themselves for the victory that was to be given by the Lord. Men who do not have the moral courage to face the enemy in combat would have no scruples in claiming the victory to themselves after the combat was successfully ended. God wanted the honour of this battle reserved to Himself, that the world might know and respect Him; therefore He separated from the ranks those who would not give Him honour. Pride and self-conceit in man are abominable to God, and he cannot and will not use the man who is proud and self-conceited.
Victories of Faith
The enemies of Christianity have often used the weapon of fear in the past, and do still today, to try to overthrow the faith in the lives of God's children. Many a soldier of the Cross has gone down because of fearful heart; but the pages of Christian history are also marked with the glorious triumphs that others have won by standing for their faith in God. The Christian has a Captain who never lost a battle, anywhere, any time; and He has often turned the ways of the wicked upside down before His people.
It takes an individual faith to win the battle in your life, but God yearns to instil that faith in your life and to strengthen it as the days go by. It has been estimated that 50 million people have suffered martyrdom for Christ rather than renounce their faith in Him. Their faith speaks convincingly for the integrity that the Gospel is able to put into the heart of man, and it also speaks eloquently to the shame of those who have quit the Camp of the Redeemed before the fight ever started or the sound of battle was heard in their ears. Do not flee, but fight; for it is the only way to win. Come to God for renewed courage, strength, hope, and faith. He has promised that He will not send the hungry away empty.
Still Too Many
When Gideon saw 22,000 soldiers lay down their implements of war and start for home, he probably considered the 10,000 soldiers who remained a very small number. He did not lose heart, however. Did not Barak and Deborah deliver Israel from the hands of Sisera with a like number? ([JUG:4:14]). As Gideon surveyed the scene, the Lord said that the people were too many still. God instructed Gideon to bring the army down to the water, that He might choose the ones who should go on to the battle.
The Lord's standard is very high.
The signal that God gave to Gideon to determine who should go and who should stay at home was not an ordinary signal. "Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink" (Judges 7:5). The number of men who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men. The Lord told Gideon that by these 300 men He would deliver the Midianites into Israel's hand.
Small Numbers
Many times it is a small distinction that marks the difference between men. Paul the Apostle recommended to the Ephesians: "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15, 16). God does not always require great numbers of men to do His work, but He does demand that those who work for Him be spiritually qualified. John Wesley said: "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth."
It was not a great thing that marked the separation between the band of 300 men and the 9,700 men who were rejected. There was a vast distinction between the 22,000 men who were fearful and afraid, and the 10,000 men who remained at the first trial. It might seem that God overruled the will of man in this separation of the 300 from the 10,000, but on closer examination we shall note that it still remained an individual matter with all the men concerned. There are times when some small characteristic in a man, seemingly harmless in itself, will cause that man to be ruled out of God's choice group. There is not such a thing as being too careful in every attitude and action before God.
Nine thousand and seven hundred men came to the water and knelt down on their knees to drink. The enemy was directly before Israel's army, yet these soldiers could forget everything else for the moment to take their refreshment. It was not so with the 300 men who lapped water. They had not forgotten the years of suffering they had endured under the hands of the Midianites. Here was a chance for deliverance, and they were eager to be about the business. There was not time to drink leisurely their fill of water; they put their hand to the water and drank whatever they could get in this manner, all the while keeping their eyes and thoughts upon the action that would soon engage them. God said that by these 300 alert, determined, circumspect men, He would deliver Israel.
Self-Restraint
There are many things in the world that are lawful to the use of the child of God, but over-indulgence in the use of anything will cause God's displeasure. This lesson is taught very clearly in the lives of Gideon's soldiers. No one can say that it is a sin to drink water, yet the manner in which the 9,700 men took their time and ease in drinking water showed their true spiritual condition and caused their dismissal from the ranks of God's chosen band.
In he scenes of business activity the man whom the world considers most successful is the man who applies all his time, talents, and energy to the prosecution of his business. He considers life primarily in the sense of earnest endeavour, and takes but an occasional time for relaxation. He seeks every opportunity for the furtherance of his business or profession, and while he keeps in this frame of mind, his business prospers.
All that can be said of success in secular business can be repeated in favour of the calling of being a Christian soldier. Such a one must consider duty first and pleasure afterward, and this is the natural bent of the one who is truly serving God. His pleasure lies in doing the will and bidding of His Captain. Pleasure and duty to the child of God are one and the same thing. The longer a man or woman serves God, the more is this truth brought to light. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).
Few but Mighty
God does not need great multitudes with which to do His work. The multitudes could be used in a wonderful way if their hearts were right in His sight, and the people were willing to do God's bidding. The sad fact remains that God cannot find many people who allow themselves to be pliable in His hands. But God is not so much interested in quantities of workmen in His vineyard, as He is in finding the quality of material that He can use. Success in most endeavours depends more upon the qualification of the individuals than upon the number employed. This is just as true in the Lord's work.
During Jesus' ministry on earth, the Son of God found eleven men whom He could trust and to whom He gave the commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Eleven men against the whole world seemed to be fearful odds, but Jesus promised them that He would be with them always, even unto the end of the world. Did the Gospel fail because the messengers were so few? Not at all. It spread with incredible speed during those early Apostolic days, and is still making its way and place in the world. The influence of the Gospel has no measure, but we are told that the judgements of an angry God are held back only by its power. The Christian soldier is in a fight to the finish, and his principal enemies are the "rulers of the darkness of this world" and "spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Satan is doing his utmost to set up his kingdom and power through the Antichrist, but the Spirit of God in the hearts of His people is holding this power at bay. One day the Church will be raptured: then the world will be at the command of the most despotic ruler that it has ever known.
God's Choice Group
There are vast armies of religious people in the world today, and all claim to be a part of God's army. What a wonderful thing if every professed soldier of Christ were of the stamp of Gideon's band! The sad truth remains that the ratio between the true soldier who is willing and ready to venture all that he has for the cause of Christ and those who are fearful and afraid, or those who would rather take their ease than face the enemy, is still about the same as it was in Gideon's day. One man out of a hundred passed the exacting test that God put them through. What a startling thought! "Who then can be saved?" the disciples asked Jesus when they heard of the exacting measures that led to entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. It still remains an individual matter whether you will be saved or not. Ample provisions both of grace and glory have been provided for each traveller along the highway of holiness. "You can if you will" is a motto that has been used by Christians for many years, and is as true in your life as it was in the life of the one to whom it first was spoken. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
Questions
1. How many men answered Gideon's call to war against the Midianites?
2. Why did God tell Gideon that the people were too many?
3. What was the first test put before the army? and how many people went back?
4. Who tried the army on the next occasion? What was the test?
5. How many men passed this second test?
6. What great lesson is to be learned from this test that God put Gideon's soldiers through?
7. How does God try His soldiers today?