What can we learn about obedience from the men who "lap with their tongues"? A Surprising Test beside the Stream “ So Gideon took the men down to the water, and the LORD said to him, ‘Separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue like a dog from everyone who kneels to drink.’ And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the men knelt to drink. Then the LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you…’ ” (Judges 7:5-7) What the Scene Reveals • Two postures: – Kneeling directly to the water—face down, unaware of surroundings – Scooping water to the mouth—alert, eyes up, ready to move • God singles out the smaller, alert group (only 300) for the victory • No prior command about how to drink; yet their instinctive posture becomes the test Lessons on Obedience from the Lapping Men • Readiness matters – Obedience is not only doing what God says; it is being poised to respond instantly (Luke 12:35-36) • Small, wholehearted obedience outweighs large, half-hearted effort – 1 Samuel 14:6: “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” • God examines everyday actions – A simple drink exposes attitudes of vigilance and self-discipline (Proverbs 4:23) • Trust over technique – Victory is credited to God, not to the men’s method. Obedience positions us for His power (2 Chronicles 16:9). • Separation for service – God often sifts His people, revealing a remnant whose obedience He can use mightily (Malachi 3:17-18). Marks of Obedient Hearts Today • Alert to spiritual danger while meeting daily needs (1 Peter 5:8) • Content to be part of a minority if that is where God’s call leads (Matthew 7:13-14) • Willing to let God define the criteria for usefulness, even when they seem insignificant or peculiar (Isaiah 55:8-9) • Quick to act on God’s next command, not paralyzed by human calculations (Proverbs 3:5-6) • Motivated by love for the Commander, not the size of the assignment (John 14:15). Putting It into Practice • Begin each day by offering your simple activities—commutes, conversations, chores—to God as arenas of obedience. • Cultivate habits that keep spiritual eyes “up,” such as memorizing Scripture during routine tasks. • Accept God’s sifting seasons; let them refine rather than resent them. • Measure success by faithfulness, not numbers or visibility (1 Corinthians 4:2). Just as those three hundred remained watchful while drinking, our obedience in the ordinary positions us for extraordinary partnership with the Lord who still “saves… with the few.” |
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