Why did God instruct Gideon to send home the fearful in Judges 7:3? Setting the Scene The Midianite horde covered the valley “like locusts” (Judges 7:12), while Gideon’s Israelite force numbered just 32,000. Humanly speaking, they were already outmatched. Yet the Lord said the army was too large and initiated a thinning process. The Instruction Given “Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” — Judges 7:3 Immediately, 22,000 men—nearly seventy percent—departed, leaving only 10,000. Why God Sent the Fearful Home • To prevent demoralization – Fear is contagious. Deuteronomy 20:8 already commanded, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go… so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.” Obedience to that earlier statute ensured remaining soldiers would stand firm. • To ensure reliance on God alone – A smaller, resolute band made it unmistakable that victory could only be attributed to the Lord (cf. Judges 7:2). – Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” echoes this principle. • To refine the army’s character – Courage rooted in faith was indispensable for the coming unconventional strategy of torches, jars, and trumpets. • To test Gideon’s obedience – Reducing one’s army in enemy sight defied military logic. Gideon’s compliance demonstrated trust in God’s word over human wisdom. • To foreshadow a spiritual truth – God often works through a faithful remnant (cf. 1 Samuel 14:6). Quantity never limits Him; purity and faith do. The Outcome After further winnowing to just 300 men, the Lord routed the Midianites (Judges 7:19-22). The fearful were spared battle, and God received undiluted glory. Lessons for Believers Today • God values faith-filled courage over sheer numbers. • Fear, if nursed, can sap collective strength; confronting it preserves the body’s mission. • Obedience sometimes appears risky, yet it positions us to witness God’s power. • 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” • When God calls, He supplies; our task is to believe and follow. |
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