Judges 7:1-8
Three Hundred Men
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1Early in the morning Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
2Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
3Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.
4Then 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 to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5So Gideon brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.”
6And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink.
7Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.”
8So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.
Berean Standard Bible
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Gideon's men are camped near the Midianite army when the LORD tells him that he has too many soldiers. God names the danger: after a victory, Israel might say that its own strength had saved it.
First, the fearful are allowed to go home. Twenty-two thousand leave, and ten thousand remain. Then God tells Gideon to take the remaining men to the water. Three hundred lap water with their hands to their mouths; the others kneel to drink. God chooses the three hundred and sends the rest home.
The passage does not say that these men are braver or better soldiers because of the way they drink. God has already explained why He is reducing the army: Israel must know who saves it. The decisive promise is His: “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand.”
The battle has not happened yet. The men still have to stay, face the enemy, and follow God's direction. Their confidence rests on His promise while the Midianite camp remains below them in the valley. God is teaching His people to depend on Him before they have a victory to celebrate.
Questions
1 Why does the LORD reduce Gideon's army before the battle?
AnswerHe says Israel might otherwise boast that its own strength had saved it. Reducing the army makes clear that the promised rescue comes from the LORD.
2 What test leaves only three hundred men?
AnswerGod separates the men by how they drink. The three hundred who lap water with their hands to their mouths are kept; those who kneel to drink are sent home.
3 What does God promise Gideon after choosing the three hundred?
AnswerHe promises to save Israel and deliver the Midianites into Gideon's hand through those men. The small army can rely on God's word before the battle begins.
4 Where might our household need to admit dependence instead of relying on impressive numbers?
AnswerWe might begin to treat money, popularity, or achievements as the reason we are secure. We can name one of those temptations, thank God for what He has given, and ask for His help with what lies ahead.
What This Means for Us
A small group is not automatically more faithful than a large one. The issue here is the temptation to take God's place in the story of our success. Israel needs to remember who will give the victory.
When something goes well for our family, we can thank God for the strength and help we received, including the people He used. When our resources look small, we can still ask for His help and do the work He has given us. Gideon's particular battle promise is not a guarantee that every plan of ours will succeed, but it does show why our confidence belongs in God.
Prayer
Lord, keep us from boasting in numbers or visible strength. Teach us to receive victory as Your gift and to depend on You when our resources look small. Amen.