I invite you to turn with me to the text for Pastor John's sermon this morning in judges

chapter 7 verses 1 through 22. Then Gerubail, that is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped

beside the spring of Herod. And the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Mora in the valley.

The Lord said to Gideon, the people who are with you are too many for me to give Midian into their hands,

for Israel would become boastful, saying, my own power has delivered me.

Now therefore come proclaim in the hearing of the people saying,

whoever is afraid and trembling let him return and depart from Mount

Gilead.

So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.

Then the Lord said to Gideon,

the people are still too many

Bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there

Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you this one shall go with you he shall go with you

but every one of whom I say to you this one shall not go with you he shall not go

so he brought the people down to the water and the Lord said to Gideon, you shall separate everyone who laps the water with his

tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.

Now the number of those who leapt, putting their hand to their mouth was 300 men.

But all the rest of the people kneel to drink water.

The Lord said to Gideon,

I will deliver you with the 300 men who laughed, and will give the Midianites into your hands.

So let all the other people go, each man to his home.

So the 300 men took the people's provisions and their trumpets into their hands.

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