The Lord Delivers Israel from the Midianites
Comments for Study 7
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I. You Have To Many Men (7:1-8)
>1. Where were the armies situated? (1)
* Judges 7:1 "Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh."
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>Why did Israel have to many men? (2)
* Judges 7:2 "The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her."
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>Why were some given a chance to leave? (3)
* Judges 7:3 "announce now to the people, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained."
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>2. What did the Lord tell Gideon? (4)
* Judges 7:4 "But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, "This one shall go with you," he shall go; but if I say, "This one shall not go with you," he shall not go."
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>What unusual method did the Lord chose to separate the men? (5)
* Judges 7:5 "So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink."
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>What can we learn about the men that the Lord chose?
* All that really mattered what the number of men who would fight. With so few against so many all would know it was God's work who saved Israel.
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>3. How many men remained? (6)
* Judges 7:6 "Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink."
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>Who did the Lord say would save Israel? (7-8)
* Judges 7:7-8 "The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley."
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>How does the Lord continually let us know that it is him who saves us alone?
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II. Barley Bread Comes Tumbling Down (7:9-14)
>4. Why did the Lord's mission to Gideon take faith? (9)
* Judges 7:9 "During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands."
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>Why would Gideon be afraid to attack? (10-11)
* Judges 7:10-11 "If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp."
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>How does this bring understanding on what happens in the life of believers? (2 Cor. 1:8-11; John 9:3-5)
* 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
* John 9:3-5 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
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>5. Who had joined forces against Israel? (12)
* Judges 7:12 "The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore."
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>What did the Lord arrange for Gideon to hear? (13)
* Judges 7:13 "Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed."
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>Who did Israel's enemies come to believe was on Gibeon's side? (14)
* Judges 7:14 "His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."
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III. At the Sound of Trumpets (7:15-25)
>6. What was Gibeon's reaction to the revelation shown him about his enemies? (15)
* Judges 7:15 "When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands."
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>How did he prepare for battle? (16)
* Judges 7:16 "Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside."
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>What can we learn from him? (1 Thess. 5:8-11)
* 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
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>7. What unusual weapon was used before the battle began? (17-18)
* Judges 7:17-18 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'"
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>When did Israel began to make the noise? (19)
* Judges 7:19 "Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands."
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>How does this foreshadow the end of this age? (Rev. 8:2-6)
* Revelation 8:2-6 "And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them."
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>8. How did the troubled enemy react to the trumpets, smashing jars, torches and shouts? (20-21)
* Judges 7:20-21 "The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled."
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>What does this reveal about people who do not put their hope in the Lord? (Heb. 2:14-15)
* Hebrews 2:14-15 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
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>About those who put their hope in the Lord? (Rom. 8:15-17)
* Romans 8:15-17 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
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>9. When the battle started who fought who? (22)
* Judges 7:22 "When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath."
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>What did those do who joined the three hundred? (22-23)
* Judges 7:23-24 "Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah."
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>Follow the retreating army on a map. How did the men who were sent home now participate in a way they would not have been able to?
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>10. What happened to the leaders of Israel's enemies?
* Judges 7:25 "They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan."
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>Considering how the Lord coordinated this battle do we have to be concerned when our enemies join forces against us? (Psalm 27:1-3; Luke 12:4-7)
* Psalm 27:1-3 "The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."
* Luke 12:4-7 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
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