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saying； Mine own hand hath saved me。 Now therefore go to； proclaim in the
ears of the people； saying； Whosoever is fearful and afraid； let him return
and depart early from Mount Gilead。〃 Those who were unwilling to face danger
and hardships； or whose worldly interests would draw their hearts from the
work of God； would add no strength to the armies of Israel。 Their presence
would prove only a cause of weakness。
It had been made a law in Israel that before they went to battle the
following proclamation should be made throughout the army： 〃What man is
there that hath built a new house； and hath not dedicated it？ let him go and
return to his house； lest he die in the battle； and another man dedicate it。
And what man
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is he that hath planted a vineyard； and hath not yet eaten of it？ let him
also go and return unto his house； lest he die in the battle； and another
man eat of it。 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife； and hath
not taken her？ let him go and return unto his house； lest he die in the
battle； and another man take her。〃 And the officers were to speak further to
the people； saying； 〃What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted？ let
him go and return unto his house； lest his brethren's heart faint as well as
his heart。〃 Deuteronomy 20：5…8。
Because his numbers were so few compared with those of the enemy； Gideon had
refrained from making the usual proclamation。 He was filled with
astonishment at the declaration that his army was too large。 But the Lord
saw the pride and unbelief existing in the hearts of His people。 Aroused by
the stirring appeals of Gideon； they had readily enlisted； but many were
filled with fear when they saw the multitudes of the Midianites。 Yet； had
Israel triumphed； those very ones would have taken the glory to themselves
instead of ascribing the victory to God。
Gideon obeyed the Lord's direction； and with a heavy heart he saw twenty…two
thousand； or more than two thirds of his entire force； depart for their
homes。 Again the word of the Lord came to him： 〃The people are yet too many；
bring them down unto the water； and I will try them for thee there： and it
shall be； that of whom I say unto thee； This shall go with thee； the same
shall go with thee； and of whomsoever I say unto thee； This shall not go
with thee； the same shall not go。〃 The people were led down to the
waterside； expecting to make an immediate advance upon the enemy。 A few
hastily took a little water in the hand and sucked it up as they went on；
but nearly all bowed upon their knees； and leisurely drank from the surface
of the stream。 Those who took of the water in their hands were but three
hundred out of ten thousand； yet these were selected； all the rest were
permitted to return to their homes。
By the simplest means character is often tested。 Those who in time of peril
were intent upon supplying their own wants were not the men to be trusted in
an emergency。 The Lord has no place in His work for the indolent and
self…indulgent。 The men of His choice were the few who would not permit
their own wants to delay them in the discharge of duty。 The three hundred
chosen men not only possessed courage and
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self…control； but they were men of faith。 They had not defiled themselves
with idolatry。 God could direct them； and through them He could work
deliverance for Israel。 Success does not depend upon numbers。 God can
deliver by few as well as by many。 He is honored not so much by the great
numbers as by the character of those who serve Him。
The Israelites were stationed on the brow of a hill overlooking the valley
where the hosts of the invaders lay encamped。 〃And the Midianites and the
Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like
locusts for multitude； and their camels were without number； as the sand
which is upon the seashore for multitude。〃 Judges 7：12； R。V。 Gideon trembled
as he thought of the conflict of the morrow。 But the Lord spoke to him in
the night season and bade him； with Phurah his attendant； go down to the
camp of the Midianites； intimating that he would there hear something for
his encouragement。 He went； and； waiting in the darkness and silence； he
heard a soldier relating a dream to his companion： 〃Lo； a cake of barley
bread tumbled into the host of Midian； and came unto a tent； and smote it
that it fell； and overturned it； that the tent lay along。〃 The other
answered in words that stirred the heart of that unseen listener； 〃This is
nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash； a man of Israel： for
into his hand hath God delivered Midian； and all the host。〃 Gideon
recognized the voice of God speaking to him through those Midianitish
strangers。 Returning to the few men under his command； he said； 〃Arise； for
the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian。〃
By divine direction a plan of attack was suggested to him； which he
immediately set out to execute。 The three hundred men were divided into
three companies。 To every man were given a trumpet； and a torch concealed in
an earthen pitcher。 The men were stationed in such a manner as to approach
the Midianite camp from different directions。 In the dead of night； at a
signal from Gideon's war horn； the three companies sounded their trumpets；
then； breaking their pitchers and displaying the blazing torches； they
rushed upon the enemy with the terrible war cry； 〃The sword of the Lord； and
of Gideon！〃
The sleeping army was suddenly aroused。 Upon every side was seen the light
of the flaming torches。 In every direction was heard the sound of trumpets；
with the cry of the assailants。
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Believing themselves at the mercy of an overwhelming force； the Midianites
were panic…stricken。 With wild cries of alarm they fled for life； and；
mistaking their own companions for enemies； they slew one another。 As news
of the victory spread； thousands of the men of Israel who had been dismissed
to their homes returned and joined in pursuit of their fleeing enemies。 The
Midianites were making their way toward the Jordan； hoping to reach their
own territory； beyond the river。 Gideon sent messengers to the tribe of
Ephraim； rousing them to intercept the fugitives at the southern fords。
Meanwhile； with his three hundred； 〃faint； yet pursuing；〃 Gideon crossed the
stream hard after those who had already gained the farther side。 The two
princes； Zebah and Zalmunna； who had been over the entire host； and who had
escaped with an army of fifteen thousand men； were overtaken by Gideon；
their force completely scattered； and the leaders captured and slain。
In this signal defeat not less than one hundred and twenty thousand of the
invaders perished。 The power of the Midianites was broken； so that they were
never again able to make war upon Israel。 The tidings spread swiftly far and
wide； that Israel's God had again fought for His people。 No words can
describe the terror of the surrounding nations when they learned what simple
means had prevailed against the power of a bold； warlike p