You gotta wonder what was going on inside those three hundred guys that night. When they responded to the trumpet call of Gideon to come down to fight against the Midianites and Amalekites they saw thousands of other men come too. In fact, they and 31,700 of their “closest friends” had risen early that morning and moved to set up camp beside the well of Harod on Mount Gilead (Judges 7:1) . . . establishing their battle line . . . anticipating the fight ahead of them. And even at 30,000 strong this wasn’t going to be a “gimme” . . . for “the Midianites and the Amalekites, all the people of the East were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand of the seashore in multitude” (Judges 7:12).

But that was this morning . . . now, the night before battle, they were just three hundred. Three hundred . . . good night!! What happened!!! First, Gideon said, “Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead” . . . why did he have to say that? And depart they did . . . 22,000 of them . . . ok . . . if I wasn’t fearful and afraid when Gideon said that, I’m starting to go there now. But, an army of 10,000 is still an army of 10,000.

And then, there was that drink of water . . . that course setting drink of water. Almost everyone got down on their knees to drink from the waters . . . not a very safe position to place yourself in considering you’re in enemy territory. But there were three hundred of them who scooped up the water in their hand, putting it to their mouth and lapping from their hands (7:5-8). Who wouda’ thunk that such a simple act would have such profound implications. And off they went . . . sent home because of how they drank the water . . . another 9,700 men. So you gotta wonder what thoughts were running through the heads of the 300 men who were left.

They hadn’t been in the presence of the Angel of the Lord like Gideon had been . . . hadn’t heard what Gideon had heard . . . hadn’t put out the fleece like Gideon had put out. All they knew was that they were 300 strong (if you can use the word strong) and that below them in the valley was an army as numerous as locusts. But, while the Scripture doesn’t say so, I’m wondering if they did have something in common with Gideon . . . if they did experience something that Gideon had experienced . . . “But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon” (6:34 ESV).

I can’t help but wonder if that too was what caused 300 men to witness almost 32,000 other men go home and yet determine to remain and go to battle. How do you explain it apart from a moving and visitation of the Spirit of God?

God’s purpose was clear in whittling down the army . . . “And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ” (7:2) This was to be God’s deliverance . . . God would fight this battle . . . His grace would be the determining factor in breaking the oppression of the enemy. God was at work . . . He knew the plan . . . it would all work out . . . but those 300 guys didn’t know that . . . apart from an inner assurance . . . a Spirit induced confidence.

And I can’t help but be reminded that the same Spirit is the power of God which resides in me. I might lie awake in bed at night . . . anticipating the battle ahead of me the next day . . . knowing how out-matched I am . . . wondering how I can make it through . . . and then I’ll hear that still small voice, ” ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech. 4:6) That member of the Godhead who indwells within me intercedes, Spirit-to-spirit, producing a peace that passes understanding (Php. 4:7), assuring me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Php. 4:13). I’m may be out numbered . . . but the Spirit reminds me that He is my strength and that the battle really is the Lord’s . . . and God gets the glory.

Father, thank you for the reminder that the battle is Yours . . . that my view of all that’s going on is pretty limited. May I know Your presence through the Spirit inside me . . . even though it feels like it’s just 300 against huge opposition . . . Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:37) . . . amen!