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From Eternity Past
chosen men not only possessed courage and self-control, they were
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men of faith. They had not defiled themselves with idolatry. God could
direct them, and through them He could work deliverance for Israel.
God is honored not so much by 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 invaders lay encamped “like locusts for multitude;
and their camels were without number, as the sand which is upon the
seashore for multitude.” Gideon trembled as he thought of the conflict
of the morrow. But the Lord bade him go down to the camp of the
Midianites. He would there hear something for his encouragement.
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 through those Midi-
anitish strangers. Returning to the few men under his command, he
said, “Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of
Midian.”
God’s Simple Battle Plan
By divine direction a plan of attack was suggested. The three
hundred men were divided into three companies. To every man was
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
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of Gideon!”
The sleeping army was suddenly aroused. Upon every side was
seen the light of flaming torches. In every direction was heard the
sound of trumpets with the cry of the assailants. Believing themselves
at the mercy of an overwhelming force, the Midianites were panic-