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Gideon's battle with the Midianites

Gideon takes on the Midianites with just 300 men.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, French, Simplified Chinese
1
The Midianites and their allies had gathered an army of 135,000 to rob the Israelites of their crops and food. God has promised Gideon He would give him victory over them. – Slide 1
2
The enemy were camped in the valley of Jezreel near the hill of Moreh. Gideon had 32,000 warriors from the nearby tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali who had gathered near the spring of Harod. They were outnumbered more than 4:1. – Slide 2
3
The Lord told Gideon, ‘You have too many warriors. If I let you defeat the Midianites the Israelites will boast they did it themselves. Send home all those who are timid or afraid.’ So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. They were now outnumbered by over 13:1. – Slide 3
4
Then the Lord told Gideon, ‘There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring.’ At the spring, the Lord said, ‘Divide the men into two groups. In one put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.’ Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. God told Gideon to these 300 men would bring victory and the others should be sent home. They were now outnumbered 450:1. – Slide 4
5
That night the Lord told Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged’ – Slide 5
6
Gideon and Purah crept up on the enemy just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. ‘In my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!’ His companion answered, ‘Your dream can only mean God has given Gideon victory over us.’ Gideon bowed and worshipped God then returned to his camp. – Slide 6
7
‘Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!’ Gideon shouted. He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. He instructed them that as soon they heard him blow his horn they should do the same and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’ – Slide 7
8
Just after the changing of the guard at midnight, Gideon’s group of 100 men reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. The other groups did the same. They held the blazing torches in their left hands, their horns in their right hands shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ – Slide 8
9
Each man stood still and watched as the lord caused the Midianites to rush around in a panic. They began fighting among each other with their swords. – Slide 9
10
Those who were not killed fled back to the river Jordan. Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, to chase them. He also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to cut the enemy off at the shallow river crossings. – Slide 10
11
They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite commanders and executed them. – Slide 11
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(Images of events that follow this story - ‘Gideon pursues the Midianites’ – can be downloaded from FreeBible images.org). – Slide 12