Gideon was appointed as a judge for a divine purpose. In this passage we how Faith is really spelt risk, Gideon took a physical camp in stealthily going down to the Midianite Camp, the forces arraigned against him were massive, he took a spiritual risk in believing in a way out there dream and its interpretation, he was prepared to believe God’s purpose to worship and then to act. Are we open to listen, to hear from God even when what we hear seems outlandish? Check it out, seek and interpretation, dwell on it and if it settles in your heart as a step to take, worship God, then take action. As the words of the old hymn go ” Trust and obey, there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”
Judges 7 vs. 9-15 Gideon’s Fears Overcome by a Dream
That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!
But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah, listen to what the Midianites are saying
For I will demonstrate to you that I am in control of the situation, you won’t be overcome, the Midianites won’t you hem
Rather than get perplexed by what you see, be prepared to listen, for as you do you will have cause to me be obeying
For I know beforehand each and every situation I am placing you in and you can be confident I am all of them
For I am able to do more than you can imagine, and it is as you place your trust in me I can my power be demonstrating
For I am greater than he who is in the world, I will overcome all your enemies, no matter how strong they seem
Go down to their camp, I will protect you as you eavesdrop with Purah, listen to what the Midianites are saying
And you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down
To the edge of the enemy camp, the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley
Gideon took a risk in going to the edge of the camp, he needed stealth to ensure he wasn’t caught like a pawn
He had to make his move carefully for it was a large camp with sentries posted it was prudent to move slowly
To be conscious of his surrounds and yet to trust in God’s word and listen to the Midianites and from them discern
What they would say to cause him to be encouraged, so he went to where the people were, settled in the valley
Like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!
Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream,
The people of the east were so numerous they were like a swarm of locusts a considerable amount
So large where their numbers that it would have been easy to be afraid to attack, defeat it could mean
However Gideon and Purah went did what they were asked, and a man a dream did start to recount
So Gideon and Purah did listen in as he began to tell his companion about his unusual disconcerting dream
And in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp; it hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”
His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing God has given Gideon Son of Joash, the Israelite, Victory
We can have times when we wonder what God is doing, sometimes we have dreams or words for other which seem way out of it
Faith can be spelt risk, sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones and share what we hear, even a weird dream or story
Imagine a round loaf of barley bread probably about a kilo in size rolling into a camp hitting a tent, turning it over and knocking it
Flat a bit out there, don’t you think, but the interpretation of dreams is important and the answer was Gideon was to have victory
Over Midian and all its allies!” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, He bowed in worship before the LORD
Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”
Gideon could have reacted in one of two different ways, either rejecting the dream and its interpretation, not trust the LORD
Or believe in it and in the power of the Lord, he chose the latter, I believe his heart rejoiced in it, he would beat the hordes
He was prepared to worship his Lord and wasn’t afraid to rouse his men and shout that victory was theirs ordained by the LORD
Are we prepared to listen to others as they share, to seek interpretation, and to act in accord with the Lord, he overcomes hordes!
Mark Maffey, January 2011© (NLT )
http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/