March 9th

March 9th -- Judges 7 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%207&version=NLT)

Gideon defeats the Midianites.

So Jerub-Baal/Gideon (he got himself a nickname for the incident with the Baal altar and Asherah pole) and his army get up early and start on their way to the Midianite camp. God, though, tells Gideon he has too many soliders, because if he won with that many, Israel would think they won by their power not God's. So, he says to tell the people anyone who's afraid can go home, which cuts their 32,000 to 10,000. God says there are still too many. God says to bring the men to water to drink, then divide them into two groups, one being those who cup water in their hands, and the other being those who go all the way down with their mouths. Only 300 used their hands, and God said to take only those 300 to battle.

So they get to the Midianite camp and camp on the cliff nearby. God says to go down into the camp (bringing Purah if he's afraid) because he will be encouraged by what he hears. Gideon hears about a dream, and how someone interprets it as God giving Gideon victory over Midian and its allies. So Gideon goes back and splits the men into groups. He gives each group horns and clay jars. Gideon says when he does, blow the horns and smash the jars. They do so, and this causes panic in the Midian camp, where soldiers begin attacking each other in confusion and panic. Very few escape, but Gideon sends out messengers to nearby places, and the few who escaped are found and killed.

I like this story. I find it so cool that 300 men killed off thousands just by blowing horns and smashing torches. That would never have worked without God. In fact, I don't think they'd have ever come up with that plan without God. Without God they'd have just brought all their soldiers and hoped for the best. But God intervened to show that He is still their powerful God, and He is still on their side.
Also, I've always randomly wondered why God picked that water-drinking test for how to sort the men. I just would love to know why that of all the various things.

Well, that will be all! God bless! Shalom!