It was one of the great military victories of all time: defeating an army of thousands with just 300 men. It took faith and courage to execute such a bold plan. But that doesn’t mean Gideon never wrestled with fear. Gideon needed a confidence boost, and the Lord provided it. While scouting the enemy camp, Gideon overheard an interesting conversation. Two enemy soldiers were discussing a prophetic dream in which Gideon had defeated them.
(Judges 7:9-15, NKJV)
“It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, ‘Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 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 afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.’ Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion.
He said, ‘I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.’ Then his companion answered and said, ‘This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.’ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, ‘Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.'”
Recognize
Recognizing God was already at work, Gideon rallied the troops for battle. His faith had conquered fear. Everyone experiences uncertainty. We can be honest with God about our fears and insecurities. When we give the Lord our doubts, He will help us overcome them so we can move on toward victory.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
