I Was A Chosen Soldier in Gideon's Army

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

An Israelite Soldier's Thoughts

Gideon yelled for us to wake up.  It was the middle of the night! 

I'd finally fallen asleep and walked into the best dream ever. Well, such was the life of a soldier.

I grabbed my weapons and hurried with the other 299 men to meet with Gideon. How did I know we had 300 all together you ask? Gideon was no ordinary leader. Here's what happened:

Thirty two thousand men answered the call to fight this battle. One night during training, Gideon surprised us all. He called a meeting then announced: "Anyone who is afraid may go home. No question will be asked."


We lost 22,000 men that night. How would we win a battle with only 1000 men?


The next day Gideon took us to the river and watched each man drink. He sent those who lapped water like a dog home! 700 soldiers! I'm glad I scooped water into my hand then brought it to my mouth to drink. Only 300 men became the chosen soldiers.

Gideon didn't think of these ideas on his own. The Lord gave him these instructions. To think, I had passed the Lord's tests to be a soldier in Gideon's army.


All the men assembled around Gideon with their weapons as fast as a lightening bolt.  Our leader folded his arms and glanced at our weapons. "Leave you weapons here. The Lord has instructed us to use a different battle strategy." 

We immediately dropped our weapons and stood ready to obey.

Gideon nodded. "Good." He walked through our group sorting us into units of 100 men. Each unit had a commander assigned. Gideon chose me as commander of my unit. I promised to faithfully follow his instructions, no matter how odd they seemed.

He pointed to a pile of trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches. "Give your men one of each."  I immediately went to the piles, gathered our supplies, and gave each of my men one trumpet, one empty pitcher, and one torch. We stood before Gideon ready to hear the next instruction.


Gideon pressed his shoulders back. "Watch me and do what I do. When I come to the edge of the camp I and those in my unit will blow the trumpets then you blow your trumpets from your positions. I will then shout 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.', you do the same."


I understood his plan right away.  Usually a whole unit of men would have only one trumpet blow and one torch lit.  Three hundred trumpets and torches would look like a mighty army to the Midianites. Since we would stand on the cliffs and hills surrounding their army, they would think thousands of soldiers stood behind our men.  The dark sky would help confuse our enemy.


This was a great battle plan.

I had heard about the Jericho battle when the Lord caused the city walls to fall. The Lord told the soldiers to walk around the city for seven days. After they obeyed, the city walls fell giving the Israelites an easy victory. All we have to do is obey. The Lord will take care of giving us the victory.  Oooooo I can't wait to see what happens.


Come back next week, I'll tell you what the Lord did during this battle.


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1. What did the soldiers do when Gideon told them not to use their weapons.
2. Gideon divided the men into what groups?
3. What did Gideon give each man?
4. What did Gideon tell the men to do first? Second?
5. Who's battle plan was this?
6. What important action did the soldiers do? (hint did they question Gideon's orders?)
7. God will sometimes ask us to do unusual things. Why should we obey like today's soldiers obeyed?

Wittling Gideon's Army

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Gideon's Thoughts

My muscles had more energy than a cheetah out for a run.  The Lord showed me He'd lead the Israelites to victory by setting my bone dry fleece in a puddle of water.  Not one drop on the fleece!

Israelite soldiers traveled from near and far to fight for Israel. I'd say thirty-two thousand men came ready to conquer the Midianites.  We camped together on the south side of the Midianites. Many soldiers couldn't sleep-could you the night before something exciting would happen?

I walked away from the camp to have a quiet time with the Lord. I'd hoped He share a fantastic battle plan. 

To my surprise the Lord said,  "Gideon, you have too many men with you for Me to give Israel a victory. The men will think they won the battle by themselves."

I listened to His words. I could see His point, but wondered how Israel could win with less men.  He then said, "Call the soldiers and say, 'Whoever is afraid can leave. Go to Mount Gilead.'"

My heart pounded louder with each step the departing soldiers took.  Twenty-two thousand men left!  Just like that!  How could God win the battle with only ten thousand soldiers? 

I looked at the camp. So few men left! I decided to talk with the Lord again. Maybe I misunderstood the directions.  I returned to the same place and sat, waiting to see if the Lord would speak to me.  He said, "Gideon you still have too many men."

Ten thousand soldiers--too many?  The Lord then said, "Take the men down to the water. I will tell you who should stay and who should go home."

I grew quite curious about the battle. God must have had a big miracle in mind. I instructed the men to go to the water. Soon after we arrived the Lord said to me, "Everyone who laps water like a dog by scooping water with a hand to their mouth must be set aside. Those who bend low on their knees to drink should be sent home."

I walked along as the men drank and told all who lapped the water to stand by the tree. I sent the other men home after they finished their drink.  

The small group of men who stood by the tree had great strength and skill. I counted three hundred men. 

Only three hundred to conquer thousand of Midianites! Now this will take a miracle!

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1. What did the Lord tell Gideon the first time?

2. What happened when Gideon obeyed?

3. What did the Lord tell Gideon to do the second time?

4. What happened when Gideon obeyed?

5. Who do you think will win the battle?

Come back to read what happened next.