What can we learn about obedience from the men who "lapped with their hands"? Setting the Scene at the Spring • Gideon brings 32,000 Israelites to the spring of Harod. • God intends to prove that victory comes from Him alone, so He trims the ranks. • The Lord’s first cut leaves 10,000; the second focuses on how the men drink. The Unique Drink Test • “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps” (Judges 7:5). • “…from those who kneel to drink” (Judges 7:5). • “Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths,” (Judges 7:6) • “…and all the rest knelt to drink” (Judges 7:6). • “With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands” (Judges 7:7). • “Let all the others go, every man to his home” (Judges 7:7). Obedience on Display • Immediate compliance – Every soldier responds without debate; no one stalls or argues. • Unmixed focus – Hand-lappers stay alert, ready for orders, eyes up instead of buried in the stream. • Discipline in the ordinary – Drinking water seems trivial, yet God uses this mundane act to test hearts. • Readiness for battle – Hands free for weapons show preparedness to move when God signals. Why God Honors the Lappers • Their small act reveals hearts already yielded. • They model trust; they follow instruction without needing full explanations. • Their posture pictures vigilance—watchful, self-controlled, and mission-minded. • God delights to work through the few who are wholly available, so He alone receives glory. Principles We Can Live Out • Obedience often begins in unnoticed moments: at a desk, in a kitchen, on a commute. • Quick, wholehearted response to God’s leading prepares us for larger assignments. • Staying spiritually alert keeps distractions from dulling our edge. • God values quality of devotion over quantity of numbers or resources. Supporting Scriptures • “Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice,” (1 Samuel 15:22). • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) • “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” (Luke 16:10) Putting Obedience into Practice 1. Treat routine tasks as occasions to honor God. 2. Cultivate alertness—limit distractions that pull focus from His voice. 3. Act promptly on Scriptural convictions rather than waiting for ideal conditions. 4. Trust God to magnify small, faithful steps into victories only He can achieve. |
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