Gideon's Battle

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Gideon's Thoughts

Each man had his trumpet, clay pot, and torch.  We were ready to march.

Not far away stood a rim of cliffs in the shape of a half circle. I sent one unit of soldiers to the right, and another to the left.


I signaled my unit of 100 men to follow me. We moved toward the central position on the cliff overlooking the Midianites. When I nodded, my men spread out into a line along the edge. 


The moon had faded behind clouds darkening the sky.  In the valley below, thousands of Midianite tents held their soldiers.  From the lack of sound, I knew they were asleep except a few guards. 


The Lord promised me we'd no longer be their slaves. That night we would be free.


My blood tingled. My muscles twinged, ready to get started. I couldn't see the other units in the dark and wanted to give them enough time to get into position. Seemed like a good time to talk with the Lord.


"Lord, I have done all you said. In a few moments the three hundred men you chose will follow my lead. The trumpets will sound and the torches revealed. Bless us with your victory."


Then the middle watched sounded their change down in the Midianite camp.  


I raised my trumpet with my right hand and signaled my men to blow. The sound blasted out to the valley. I broke my clay pot. The light from my torch sprang from its hiding place. Our one hundred torches lit the sky around us. 


Instantly the units to my left and right blew their trumpet and broke their clay pots. Light flared on both sides.  My men and I shouted "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!." The other units echoed the same. We all continued to shout, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" again and again.


Then we watched the Lord work.


Men ran out of their tents with their swords like bees in a hive swarming about, confused. With all the noise, their leader couldn't give instructions. Their soldiers ran into each other with their swords raised wounding and killing each other.


I signaled my men to blow their trumpets again. The other units copied right away. 


The Midianites shouted at each other. Some started to run from the camp, others followed. They looked like a flock of scared chickens clucking and squawking to get away from a wolf.


I turned to my unit. "Men, the Lord has given us the victory. See, the Midianites are afraid of us. Go get your brothers. Run to Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh and tell them what has happened. Say, "Come down against the Midianites and take every watering place from them."


Israelite soldiers came from all of the northern mountains and villages. Together we fought the Midianites with the Lord's power and won our freedom.  


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1.  What did each man have.
2.  What did Gideon's men do?
3.  There were only ______ soldiers with Gideon. 
4.  Why were the Midianite's afraid?
5.  Who actually fought this battle?
6.  After the Midianites ran away, what did Gideon have his men do?
7.  What did the Israelite soldiers win?