The Army of Gideon

     Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and many other religions) recognize that God works many miracles through the faith of His disciples.  The scriptures teach us that “…all things are possible to him that believeth.”  (Mark 9:23)  The scriptures also provide so many different examples of the miracles that can be worked by God for those who have faith in Him.

     One of those miracles has been on my mind lately.  It’s found in the story of Gideon, who led an Israelite army against the hosts of the Midianites.  Let me build some background around the story before I get into the miracle.

     After the Israelites had come into the Promised Land, they started worshipping the gods of the people who were in the land.  One of these gods was Baal.  God probably sent prophets among the people to cry repentance, but the prophets would have been rejected.  So God allowed the Midianites several victories over the Israelites because of their wickedness.

     After seven years of defeat at the hands of the Midianites, the people of Israel cried unto God for deliverance.  God sent a prophet to teach them the cause of their suffering.  Then He sent an angel to call Gideon to lead the children of Israel to victory over the Midianites.

     Following the Lord’s command, Gideon cast down the groves and altars of idolatry the people of Israel were using.  He then built an altar to the Lord in their place and offered a sacrifice upon the altar.  Then he sent forth a call for the armies of Israel to gather.  Approximately 32,000 Israelites responded, while the armies of the Midianites gathered against them.

     This is the point where we see the miracles of God manifested by the faith of the people.  Many among the children of Israel had been worshipping a false god.  So God would respond by showing His power and establishing that He was in fact the One True God.  He would do it with those who trusted and had faith in Him.  To do so, He needed the armies of Israel to be smaller in number than they were so they had no room for proclaiming they had done it.  They would have to recognize the hand of God in the victory.  God commanded Gideon to tell the people that all who were “fearful and afraid” should depart.  Most of the army departed, leaving only 10,000 to fight the armies of the Midianites. 

     This is one demonstration of the faith of those God would lead into battle.  It’s extremely unlikely that anybody among the children of Israel wasn’t afraid to march against an army that appeared as innumerable as the armies of the Midianites did.  Yet 10,000 people trusted God enough to conquer their fear and stand with Gideon.  They didn’t stay because they lacked fear.  They stayed because they were able to conquer their fear with trust in God.

     God did not intend to allow 10,000 people to fight against the enemy, however.  It was His will to deliver the armies of the Midianites into a much smaller number.  Gideon took the people to the river to drink.  All those who got on their knees to drink like a dog would be sent home.  After sending these people home, only 300 remained. 

     These 300 men yet again demonstrated great faith.  Imagine you were among the army preparing to go against a vast host of men.  Your commanding officer then gives two orders, cutting the number of your fellow soldiers down to 300 men.  Now you’re standing there with only 300 others preparing to take on a massive army.  Your only hope at this point is the promise that God stands with you and will deliver the enemy into your hands.  You would have to have great faith in God to stay and fight.

     These 300 men did stay to fight.  God gave Gideon direction that allowed him to devise a plan of attack.  Then an army of 300 men routed a massive army of Midianites.  Only then were the rest of the children of Israel called upon to pursue the fleeing army.

     In today’s world we have a hard time grasping the incredible miracle worked by God on this occasion.  We live in a world where a single missile fired by one person can kill thousands, if not millions.  It’s not very difficult to believe 300 men can route an enemy much larger than they are. 

     Yet the world Gideon lived in was very different from our world.  Your ability to conquer your enemy rested only in your strength and skill with a simple weapon like a sword.  Even the most skilled warriors had little hope for victory when attacking a significantly larger enemy.

     But God was with the children of Israel because those who remained were men of faith.  He helped Gideon devise a battle plan that delivered the Midianites into the hands of the children of Israel.  And the children of Israel prevailed.  That’s one of the many mighty miracles that can be wrought by the hand of God through the faith of His disciples.