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Too Many Soldiers, July 12
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many
for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves
against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Judges 7:2
.
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 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 astonish-
ment 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
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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.
The Lord is willing to do great things for us. We shall not gain the victory
through numbers, but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go
forward in His strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel. There is a lesson for
us in the story of Gideon’s army.... The Lord is just as willing to work through
human efforts now, and to accomplish great things through weak instrumentalities.
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