“So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.”
In this verse, we see Gideon making preparations for battle against the Midianite army. Gideon had started with a large army of 32,000 men, but God instructed him to reduce the number to a mere 300. This reduction seemed counterintuitive, but it served a purpose in demonstrating God’s power and ensuring that the glory would go to Him alone.
One important aspect to note is that Gideon’s army was significantly outnumbered by the Midianites. Their camp was described as being as numerous as “locusts” and their camels as “sands by the sea shore” (Judges 7:12). The vast Midianite army was situated in the valley, while Gideon and his small group were on a hill above them.
In this specific verse, Gideon distributed food supplies and trumpets to his men. The trumpets were important for signaling and communication during the battle. Gideon then sent the rest of the Israelite soldiers, the majority of his initial army, back to their tents, retaining only the 300 men chosen by God for the upcoming battle.
By sending the majority of the troops away, Gideon was left with a small, select group of individuals who would be used to accomplish a great victory against overwhelming odds. This served to highlight that the outcome of the battle was not dependent on the size or strength of the army, but rather on the power and presence of God.
The subsequent events in the following verses reveal how Gideon and his 300 men engaged in a strategic attack, armed with trumpets, torches, and empty pitchers. Through God’s intervention, confusion fell upon the Midianites, leading to their self-destruction. This victory demonstrated the faithfulness of God and the importance of obeying His instructions, even when they seem counterintuitive.
Overall, Judges 7:8:reminds us that God’s ways are not always the ways of human logic. Sometimes, God asks us to step out in faith, even when the odds seem stacked against us. It encourages us to trust in God’s guidance, even when the situation appears impossible, knowing that He is able to bring about victory in unexpected ways.
