This is a story that I have often told my grandchildren to spark their curiosity about some of the interesting stories they can read about in the Bible. It was especially of interest to the guys because it was about a battle that was won with torches (lights) and trumpets. Well, now I guess I have gotten your interest.

The story is found in Judges 7:1-25. It takes place sometime between Joshua taking the Israelite’s into the land promised to them by God and before Saul was crowned King of the united kingdom of Israel. It was a very dark period of time with judges making decisions for the tribes who were scattered throughout the region that we know today as the Holy lands.

Now, Gideon who was at the time a judge and a commanding officer in the army of Israelites was told by God to drive the Midianites out of the land. Gideon sends out messages to all the scattered tribes to send warriors for the battle. Would you be surprised to know that 32,000 men showed up?

Oh, but the Lord told Gideon to send back all those men that really didn’t want to be there. So, all of the men left but 10,000 stayed. The Lord said, “That is still too many for this battle, so I want you to take them down to the water’s edge to drink water. Some of the men will lap up the water like a dog and some of the men will get their water on one knee. (I always kind of act this out when telling the grandkids!) I want you to send home the ones that get their water on one knee.” Now, why do you suppose he sent the ones home that drank their water while on one knee?

It was because the ones that lapped up their water were not prepared for an attack. They had to lay their weapons down and put their head in the water. So why is it that God would want the ones less prepared for the battle to go to battle with Gideon? I imagine this was making Gideon very nervous to be going into battle with fewer men and the incompetent men at that.

Gideon is getting cold feet, he just can’t understand what God is up to. As night falls, the Lord tells him to take one of his men and sneak into the enemy’s camp. So, they make their way down to the back of one of the tents. They hear voices and one of the men said that he was afraid to go into battle the next day because he had had a dream that a stick of barley bread had rolled into one of their tents and it collapsed. He had heard rumors about God’s power and didn’t think they would win this battle. Upon hearing this, Gideon fell to his knees and worshipped the Lord.

He made his way back to his army now numbering only three hundred. But with confidence, he woke up his men and told them God was going to give them victory over the enemy. He then divided the group and passed out touches, that is clay pots with oil lights under them and trumpets. His instructions were that as soon as his group of one hundred men broke their clay pots to expose the light and blew their trumpets and shouted, “for the Lord and for Gideon,” they were to do the same. So that is exactly how they won the battle, with torches in the left hand and trumpets in the right hand and obedience to God even when it sounded crazy.

Chaos among the Midianites caused some of them to kill each other as they were awakened to the light and noise surrounding them. While others just simply began to run as far away as they could. They scattered and the victory was the Lord’s.

The lesson for me was a reminder of just how many times the Lord wants to win battles for us, but we are defeated by our mindset. We just can’t see how it can be done. But the Lord is on our side and will give us instructions of which way to go and He will provide for that direction.

I am reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”

You will enjoy the book “Walking In The Journey With God,” as you read about the many ways in which God provided for His direction and plan. Some of the previous stories in this blog are also in the book. To obtain a copy just click on the title (Walking In The Journey With God) at the top of the page and it will take you to the information and allow you to order a book. Who knows someone you know may need to know how ‘real’ God is!