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Myrne

The Gideon Springs, the famous account of Gideon's defeat of the Medeanites with only 300 men after being told twice that he had too many men.

Keep in mind the Medeanite army was 135,000 strong.

And Gideon, we're told, starts off with 32,000 men, and God whittles it down.

And for a reason, I'm in Judges 7, will begin in verse 1, where we read that early in the

morning, Jerubbaal, that is Gideon, and all this men camped at the spring of Harod the camp of the Medean

was north of them in the valley near the hill of Mora. The Lord verse 2 said to Gideon,

you have too many men for me to deliver Medean into their hands. And here's why.

In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own

strength has saved her. Makes sense. If an army of the Israelites 32,000 in number, were to defeat

the Medeanite army containing 135,000 men, they would indeed take the credit for the victory.

So, he says there, I don't want them to boast in the victory that I'm about to deliver into your hands. Now here's

what we're going to do, Gideon verse 3. Announce now to the people, anyone who trembles with

fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead. Can you imagine what's going through Gideon's mind right about now? I wonder how he said it.

He's got to announce, he's got 32,000 men, and these are men. And he's got to say to these men,

is anybody afraid? Who's going to admit that they're afraid? Well, apparently,

22,000 of them had no problem admitting I'm too afraid and it would be 22,000 of them that would leave.

So now he's down to 10,000 men in verse 4, and I promise you, Gideon did not see this coming.

But the Lord said to Gideon, there are still too many men.

He's just been gutted out down to 10,000 men

and he says to him,

...