We will now hear the conclusion of Gideon’s story.
To review, here are a few questions.
When all 32,000 warriors gathered, the Lord said:
Gideon sent out this message to the Israelites:
GIDEON: All you warriors, the Lord guarantees our victory against the thousands of Midianites who have tortured us for the last 20 years. Who will join me?
Armed for battle, a huge number of Israelites arrived.
When only 10,000 warriors remained, Gideon was absolutely shocked when he heard the Lord’s next words:
So, Gideon turned to the Israelite warriors and announced:
GIDEON: Uh, thank you for coming. However, the Lord said that if any of you feel timid or afraid, you should leave this mountain and return home.
Gideon carefully watched each man as he drank.
When only 300 warriors remained to fight, Gideon announced:
GIDEON: Grab a ram’s horn to use as a trumpet, a torch to hide inside a clay pot, and a sword. Now, rest up until midnight.
That evening, to help calm Gideon’s fears, the Lord told him to take a companion, sneak into the enemy’s camp, and listen. They heard these comforting words:
MIDIANITE #1: Man! I had this crazy dream.
MIDIANITE #2: What did you dream?
MIDIANITE #1: I dreamed that one of our tents was knocked flat by a huge loaf of falling barley bread.
MIDIANITE #2: Your dream can mean only one thing. God has given Gideon and his army victory over us!
MIDIANITE #1: Yikes!
Excitedly, Gideon and his friend rushed back to their camp, woke up the 300, and ordered:
GIDEON: Get up! For the Lord has given us victory over our enemies!
Gideon divided his warriors into 3 groups of 100 each. Each man held 4 objects: (1) a trumpet made of a ram’s horn, (2) a torch, (3) a clay pot, and (4) their sword. Gideon said:
GIDEON: Group 1 goes to one side of the enemy’s camp. Group 2 goes to the other side of the camp. Group 3 will join me in the middle. Just after midnight, when the enemy switches their night-watch guards, do these 3 things: (1st) Blow your ram’s horns. (2nd) Break your clay pot. And (3rd) Hold your fire torch up high. Because it is so dark, our enemies will panic. They will never guess there are only 300 of us. Finally, shout these words:
CHANT LEADER: A sword for the Lord! [Group repeats]
And a sword for Gideon! [Group repeats]
The terrified Midianite soldiers began swinging their swords around. Because they couldn’t see, thousands of them ended up killing each other.
After that, it was an easy matter to kill the remaining enemies who had tortured them for the previous 20 years.
Thrilled, the Israelites urged Gideon to be their leader. But Gideon announced:
GIDEON: Not I! Only the Lord will rule over you.
For 40 years, there was peace in the land of Israel as Gideon served as a faith-filled judge.