“And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.”
Historical context:The Book of Judges records the period of Israel’s history after the death of Joshua, when the Israelites were ruled by a series of judges. During this time, the Israelites went through cycles of disobedience, oppression by foreign nations, repentance, and deliverance by God.
Gideon’s story:Judges 7 is part of the account of Gideon, who was called by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Gideon started with an army of 32,000 men, but God instructed him to reduce the number to demonstrate His power and ensure that Israel would acknowledge Him as the source of victory.
God’s intervention:In Judges 7:2-8, God instructed Gideon to reduce the army further by testing the men at the waters of the river. Only those who drank water by lapping it with their hands, instead of bowing down to drink, were chosen. This left Gideon with a mere 300 men.
Blowing the trumpets:In verse 16, Gideon divided the 300 men into three groups and provided each man with a trumpet and an empty pitcher with a torch inside. At night, they surrounded the Midianite camp and at Gideon’s signal, they broke the pitchers, revealing the torches, and blew their trumpets.
Divine confusion:As the 300 men blew their trumpets, God caused confusion among the Midianites. In verse 22, it states that “the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow.” The Midianites, in their confusion and fear, turned on one another, resulting in their defeat.
The fleeing enemy:The Midianite host fled to different places, including Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. This highlights the extent of their retreat and the victory that God had granted to Gideon and his small army.
Lessons from Judges 7:22:
- God’s power:The story emphasizes that victory does not depend on human strength or numbers alone. It is God who gives victory. The small number of men, armed only with trumpets and torches, reveals God’s power to confound the enemy.
- Obedience and faith:Gideon and his men trusted and obeyed God’s instructions despite the unconventional battle plan. Their obedience and faith played a crucial role in the victory.
- God’s faithfulness:Throughout the Book of Judges, we see a pattern of God’s faithfulness in delivering His people when they turned to Him. This account reaffirms God’s faithfulness to His promises and His willingness to fight on behalf of His people.
In conclusion, Judges 7:22 demonstrates God’s intervention in the battle against the Midianites and how He used a small, obedient group of men to achieve a great victory. It serves as a reminder that God’s power surpasses human limitations and that He is faithful to His people.
