Judges 7
2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4 But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Here we see how Gideon seeks to defeat the Midianites yet he desires his OWN plan vs the glory of God. Yet God speaks to Gideon and reminds him that it is the glory of God that must be the outcome. While Gideon's men ultimately defeat the Midianites, the message of glory to God is ultimately lost on the Israelites as they return to their evil ways:
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them. (Judges 8: 33-35)
How can we focus on the glory of God.
First of all, we must remind ourselves daily of what He has done for us and we must live in the light of the Lord - to be in scripture and in relationship with Him. See my previous entry.
My Prayer: Lord, you are truly great - I have seen you bless me and others. You are AWESOME! Thank you for all that you have done for me and all that you are! Forgive me if I am not as obedient as you wish. Help me know you more, desire you more, love you more, trust you more, follow you and become more like you Lord.
