Judges 7:19-8:22: A Comparison Between Those Who Live By Faith And Those Who Do Not. (And Its Benefits And Consequences)

Community Church supports church plants in several ways. We are committed to help church plants for three years as they begin, we extend that support if needed, and we may support them in the future if they encounter a difficult season in ministry.

At the beginning of a church plant there is a lot of excitement. We all know the difficulties with a church plant, but no one thinks these difficulties will happen this time. In the beginning the church planting team has a lot of faith, boundless energy, and great expectations for what the LORD will do in a short amount of time. At some point in this process, however, problems arise, difficulties are encountered, and frustration and tiredness set in.

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In Judges 7&8 we see something similar happen to Gideon and his 300 men. These men will experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. They will experience these highs as God defeats their enemies. They will experience these lows when they do not receive the support and encouragement from their own brothers.

Will the faith of these men endure all of these trials and testings? Yes! This passage should encourage us as we see how our faith can withstand the greatest storms in life individually and corporately. (Mt. 7:24-27; James 1:2-4)

Amazingly, throughout this story there is no hint of Gideon and his men complaining, grumbling, or wanting to quit when things get tough. They begin together, endure difficult things together, and they complete the mission together. All of these men have been hand picked by the LORD, received His grace, and no man is left behind!

Those men are so different than the other examples we see in our passage. You would think that all of Israel would unite together with one heart, mind, and soul; they do not. You get the impression that God is delivering His people even thought there are so few in Israel has turned to Him. How good, gracious, kind, and merciful is our God!

We will consider Judges 7:19-8:22 but we will begin by reading Judges 7:19-23, “So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath,. And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.”

Last week we considered nine ways that God had provided these 300 men with faith. Today we get to see this faith being expressed and tested in many ways. In verse 19 these 300 men are divided into three groups. When Gideon and his 100 arrive at the enemy camp they are the first to blow their trumpets, smash their jars, and hold up their torches.

What a display of faith this is! By doing this the enemy, all 135,000 of them, now knows their position so that the sharp shooting archers could target each one of them! (Psalm 11:1-2) They do this by faith and they expect the other two regiments will follow their example. (7:17-18)

This is similar to something that happened in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Lt. Col. George A. Custer led the 7th Cavalry Regiment into battle against a force of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Custer's army was divided into three battalions, and Custer led his men into the main valley, expecting support from the other two battalions. Unfortunately for Custer and his men they were vastly outnumbered by the Native American Indians who were encamped in the valley. His 210 men were quickly surrounded and none of the reinforcements arrived to support them. As a result, Custer and all his men were killed.

Something like this could have happened on this occasion. But all these men had faith and they obeyed Gideon. When Gideon and his men did all these things the other two regiments did the same. The faith of these men was expressed in obedience and courage.

Amazingly, they did all of this before God did any miracle! The LORD does not respond with a noticeable miracle until all 300 men acty in faith. (Acts 27:30-31; Proverbs 17:3) Let me give four observations about what happens in this text.

1. Gideon and his army stand their ground and do not retreat. Verse 21a says, “Every man stood his place around the camp…”. This is not a testament to these men as much as it is to the grace of God working in them through faith. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

2. Consider that this would have conveyed something to their enemy. I say this because of Philippians 1:27-28 where we read, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”

3. As these men stood their ground in faith we see that God had put fear into the enemies heart. Verse 21b says, “...and all the army ran. They cried out and fled.”

4. In verse 22 we see that now the LORD does a miracle against Israel’s enemy, “When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army.”

After this happened the remaining Midianites fled. Therefore, We are told in verse 23 that Gideon calls in reinforcements from several nearby tribes. (Proverbs 27:10) These reinforcements were effective at pushing the enemy down to the south east where they entered into Ephriam’s territory along a very narrow corridor between the Jordan River and West Manasseh.

We read these words in Judges 7:24-8:3, “Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.”

In Acts 16 the apostle Paul was told by the Holy Spirit to go into Macedonia and preach the gospel. This, however, did not mean that everything Paul experienced in Macedonia would be pleasant. No, Paul ended up being beaten and put in jail. Similarly, Gideon and these 300 men were doing God’s will but this does not mean that everything would be peaceful and pleasant. No, they are being resisted by friend and foe alike.

As the LORD is delivering His people there is trouble where you would least expect it. To begin with, Ephraim was upset with Gideon. They wanted their names associated with the glory of this battle from the start to finish. (7:2&4) Perhaps this is because Ephraim was a large and exalted tribe at this time. Joshua was from this tribe and the Tabernacle was located in its boarder. Ephraim was mentioned in Judges 5:14 (Deborah’s song) as those who risked their lives as they ‘marched down into the valley’. Ephraim was a proud tribe who is jealous of those that God had used in this way.

They are angry with Gideon and his decisions. Gideon was not a general schooled in military tactics but he has made a lot of good decisions. There are probably good reasons for why Gideon waited to call Ephraim. Maybe Gideon did not expect the enemy to make it as far south as they did. When the Midianites fled Gideon called upon the surrounding tribes for help. This forced the Midianites to travel in a south east direction along the Jordan. They eventually entered into Ephraim so Gideon sends messengers for their assistance. They responded and the LORD gave them great success, but soon they accused Gideon fiercely and were very angry. Ephraim was not responding in faith, wisdom, or discernment.

Gideon does not respond angrily towards them (Proverbs 9:8) but simply says (8:2), “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” (Prov. 15:1,23) Gideon’s response is wise and proceeds from a humble heart. (Numbers 12:3) He does not argue but simply reminds them of the facts. (Proverbs 19:2) Gideon confesses that Ephraim has enjoyed a great success compared to what he has accomplished. It takes humility, faith, and wisdom to put aside anger and receive grace to express the fruit of the Spirit in these moments.

Observation: Throughout Judges 6-8 there are signs that there are so few people of faith. Despite this, God still blesses his people. Similarly, the body of Christ is a small remnant in this world but the world is blessed because of the presence of the church. God’s common grace is upon everyone, but His special grace is given to His church.

After this, Gideon then comes to two towns in the tribe of Gad who display no faith. Judges 8:4 says, “And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.” Three observations:

• First, the 300 are still together! (6:16)

• Secondly, this implies that there have been no casualties and God continues to fulfill His word in Judges 6:16 that they would fight as one man.

• Third, these men are exhausted yet still pursing.

The Christian life is very difficult. We quoted Philippians 1:27-28 earlier and now consider Philippians 1:29-30, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” Paul speaks of these conflicts and hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:16-29, ‘labors’, ‘near death’, ‘receiving beatings from his own brothers’, ‘danger from his own brothers’, ‘danger from false brothers’, ‘danger from the Gentiles’, ‘toil and hardships’, ‘many a sleepless night’, ‘in hunger and thirst’, ‘often without food’, ‘in cold and exposure’.” So many of these things describe what these soldiers were experiencing because of the actions of faithless people.

In Judges 8:5-9 we read about two faithless towns and Gideon’s response to them, “So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, ‘Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.’ And the officials of Succoth said, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?’ So Gideon said, ‘Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.’ And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. And he said to the men of Penuel, ‘When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.’”

Gideon and his men had traveled 80-90 miles in their pursuit of these men and when they arrived at the first town they are tried, hungry, and exhausted. They cannot sleep, but they have time to eat. Gideon asks the elders of Succoth for provisions. You would think that this town would support these men who had fought for their freedom, but they will not give them any food. You can imagine how discouraging this would have been. The elders of this town have no faith in God and what he is doing. (They are not like their forefather Abraham in Romans 4:18 who in hope believed against all hope in the God who raises the dead!)

Gad was not involved in the battle for Israel’s freedom during Deborah’s day and they continue to play it safe at this time. Gideon and his men are risking their lives and this town has an opportunity to do something for God but they fail to do it. Gideon is not asking them to take up arms, he is simply asking them for provisions, and they turn these men down because Gideon did not have these two Midian kings in hand. The consequences for their faithlessness will be severe as Gideon promises, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

Is this punishment too harsh? Jesus promises to reward anyone who gives a glass of cold water in His name. On the reverse, what about the punishment for those who do not give the glass of cold water as these men do here? (Mt. 10:34-42) In Matthew 23 Jesus pronounces woes upon those who will not lift a finger to help relieve the burdens of His people. (Matthew 22:1-14)

Gideon and his men do not get up and go home. No, they go another 7-10 miles up to a city named Penuel. He asks for food but they reply as Succoth did. These men did not trust in the LORD. Hardship and suffering had not made them rely in the LORD; rather, they trusted in the tower they had built. They did not honor these men for the work they were doing. (Proverbs 18:10) Therefore Gideon rightly takes an offense (Proverbs 18:19; Psalm 15:4-5) and says, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.” Succoth’s and Penuel’s responses will have terrible consequences. (Proverbs 18:21) They have isolated themselves from God and His people and they have acted against all sound judgment. (Proverbs 18:1-2)

Undeterred Gideon and his men continue on even though they are tired and hungry. Let’s read Judges 8:10-12, “Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.”

When Gideon and his men approached the enemy they were tired, exhausted, and hungry. Do you make the best decisions when you are tired, exhausted, and hungry? These men are still focused on their mission and not these things. I say this because they don’t act foolishly. They do not take the shorter but more dangerous route into the enemy camp so that they can end the war sooner with casualties. No, they traveled around to the back side of their camp while the Midianites felt secure and then attacked them. They lived by faith and reason and not by their passions and appetites. (Galatians 5:24)

Our text ends with these words in Judges 8:13-17, “Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’” And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.”

There is much discussion about whether it was appropriate for Gideon to do these things but one lesson is clear. Faithlessness, picking the wrong side, remaining neutral in an attempt to be safe, and not supporting God and His people will lead to terrible consequences. We like to say around here, “Sin is our greatest danger!”, because it leads to death, judgment, and eternal suffering. Sin leads to emotional, physical, and relational breakdown.

As Christians, we want to live the type of life that we have seen in Gideon and his men on this occasion. (Reflect things seen in Romans 12:9-21) We will soon see that this faith needs to be persistent from the beginning to the end. Gideon and his 300 are great examples here, but soon we will see that they do not continue on the path of faithful obedience to the LORD in all things. Therefore, let us remember the doxology in Jude 24-25, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”