The Victory Is Already Won Before The Battle Begins
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. During the night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp."
So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
. . . Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands." . . . the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. Judges 7:8-22
So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
. . . Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands." . . . the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. Judges 7:8-22
The victory has already been won even before the battle begins!
God understands our humanity. He understands that in spite of all the assurances He gives us, we can still be plagued by doubts and fear. He understands that sometimes He must go the extra mile to give us indisputable assurance that the victory has already been won even before the battle begins. God is patient. He is ready to give us every bit of assurance that we are never alone. He patiently builds our faith until we become adequate for the task at hand.
That is what Gideon needed, and that is exactly what God did for him! Remember: Gideon was hiding in the winepress feeling hopeless, depressed and rejected by God. He couldn't possibly have just walked out into the battlefield in that state of despondency. His faith needed to be shored up. God was not upset with him. God understood his situation and worked with him.
Gideon first asked for a sign, "I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand . . . Then Gideon said to God . . . allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew." God patiently consented to both requests.
Then God Himself gave Gideon a sign he did not ask for. He sent Gideon into the camp of Israel's enemies to witness the indisputable sign of victory. There was a dream and there was interpretation right from the camp of the enemy that the victory had been divinely won even before the battle began! This bolstered Gideon's faith. He marshalled the Israeli forces and they charged against the enemy. God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on themselves with their swords.
Be assured of this: God will not send you into a battle that has not already been won by Him.
God understands our humanity. He understands that in spite of all the assurances He gives us, we can still be plagued by doubts and fear. He understands that sometimes He must go the extra mile to give us indisputable assurance that the victory has already been won even before the battle begins. God is patient. He is ready to give us every bit of assurance that we are never alone. He patiently builds our faith until we become adequate for the task at hand.
That is what Gideon needed, and that is exactly what God did for him! Remember: Gideon was hiding in the winepress feeling hopeless, depressed and rejected by God. He couldn't possibly have just walked out into the battlefield in that state of despondency. His faith needed to be shored up. God was not upset with him. God understood his situation and worked with him.
Gideon first asked for a sign, "I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand . . . Then Gideon said to God . . . allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew." God patiently consented to both requests.
Then God Himself gave Gideon a sign he did not ask for. He sent Gideon into the camp of Israel's enemies to witness the indisputable sign of victory. There was a dream and there was interpretation right from the camp of the enemy that the victory had been divinely won even before the battle began! This bolstered Gideon's faith. He marshalled the Israeli forces and they charged against the enemy. God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on themselves with their swords.
Be assured of this: God will not send you into a battle that has not already been won by Him.
Prayer: LORD, I thank you that I am victorious even before the battle begins. Amen.