And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ (Judges 7:2)
God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display the glory of his name. Isaiah 48:11 is one of the Bible’s clearest and most forthright statements of God’s desire for His own glory.
For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it;
For how should My name be profaned?
And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:11)
So now proclaim in the ears of the men, saying, whoever is fearful and trembling, let him turn back and depart from Mount Gilead. And 22,000 of the men returned, but 10,000 remained. (Judges 7:3)
Faith and fear cannot co-exist together, just as light and darkness can never stay together. The fearful were not operating in faith. For God to give them victory, they had to be a people of faith. When you are constantly operating in fear, God cannot use. He cannot do mighty works through you.
And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise, everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. 7 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” (Judges 7:5-7)
The test focused on one single character requirement: vigilance.
Picture first those who drank in the normal way. Laying aside their shield from the left arm and their spear—or sword—from the right arm, they went down on both knees and buried their faces in the water. In this posture, they were totally vulnerable to a surprise attack. They could not see any approaching enemy, nor did they have their weapons ready to use. In the time they took to get themselves ready, the enemy would have overcome them.
What about those who lapped like dogs?
When a dog drinks, it does not bury its nose in the water; it stretches out its tongue and laps the water up into its mouth, usually splashing some water around. How, then, should we picture the men who lapped? They went down on one knee only. Retaining their shield on their left arm, with the right arm, they set down their spear or sword beside them. Then, with a cupped hand, they scooped up the water to their mouths. In this posture, they remained alert, constantly watching for any surprise attack. Their shields were already in position, and they could instantly pick up their spear or sword and have it ready to use. There was no possibility of the enemy taking them by surprise.
Notice both were character requirements and had nothing to do with ability. God supplies the ability. “let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:11)
How do you make yourself available to God?
Your actions speak a lot about your inner man. Your actions speak a lot of what is going on, on the inside of you.
Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” (Judges 7:7)
The team’s spirit is more important than the size of the team, and the morale of the team is more important than the budget. A small dedicated team can do more than a large uncommitted group of people.
But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah, your servant, and you shall hear what they say; and afterwards, your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” (Judges 7:10-11)
What you hear can bring fear or faith. In this case, what Gideon heard brought him faith and strengthened him.
You shall hear what they say ...(Judges 7:11)
You need to hear what God tells you to hear.
There could be times when the LORD will also say, You shall NOT hear what they say.
And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise (Judges 7:17)
Notice Gideon said to them, “do as I do” and not, “do as I say.”
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