Gideon lays out the fleece twice and recei\u00adves con\u00adfir\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon that God wants to give him vic\u00adto\u00adry against Midi\u00adan. His army con\u00adsists of 32,000 men, but they are redu\u00adced to 300. God does not want the Israe\u00adli\u00adtes to boast that they had saved them\u00adsel\u00adves by their own strength. Trumpets, clay jars and tor\u00adches play a role in the batt\u00adle. This repres\u00adents that God was in the midst of His peo\u00adp\u00adle. The vic\u00adto\u00adry was won only through Him. The ser\u00admon gives strong hints on how we can expe\u00adri\u00adence God\u2019s vic\u00adto\u00adries in our ever\u00ady\u00adday life.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know any\u00adthing about stra\u00adtegy games on the com\u00adpu\u00adter, but I have done some rese\u00adarch. We can hear into the mind of a gamer: So, that should real\u00adly be enough now. Not\u00adhing more can go wrong. 56 knights, 72 archers, 5 cata\u00adpults, 3 dra\u00adgons, 17 moun\u00adted boars, 10 arch\u00adpriests and 520 peasants. Batt\u00adle for\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon fits. Ene\u00admy camp spied out. Tac\u00adtics are bombpro\u00adof. You build up your army until you feel abso\u00adlut\u00ade\u00adly unbeata\u00adble and safe. Most of the time you are then outn\u00adum\u00adbe\u00adred 10:1 in terms of troop strength. In retro\u00ads\u00adpect, you are dis\u00adap\u00adpoin\u00adted that your oppo\u00adnent was so weak. Ano\u00adther nega\u00adti\u00adve aspect of this tac\u00adtic is the time it takes. It takes time to build up your army. \tAll cowards home: God ins\u00adtruc\u00adted Gideon to release the sol\u00addiers who were afraid and despon\u00addent to go home so that they would not influence the others with their fear. Then 22,000 retur\u00adned to their fami\u00adlies. Only 10,000 remain\u00aded. This was an imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon of the fourth artic\u00adle from the Law of War (Deut. 20:8). So out of the 32,000, 300 bra\u00adve and deter\u00admi\u00adned men remain \u2013 that is less than 1%. Here it beco\u00admes clear that the strug\u00adgles of the King\u00addom of God do not depend on num\u00adbers or on power. It depends on the Lord Hims\u00adelf. \u00abIt will not be by might or by power, but by my Spi\u00adrit, says the Lord Almigh\u00adty\u00bb (Zecha\u00adriah 4:6 NL<\/span>). It is incon\u00adse\u00adquen\u00adti\u00adal whe\u00adther Gideon has 30000 or 3000 or only 3 men. All that mat\u00adters is that with the three is the living Lord. One per\u00adson with the Lord is always outn\u00adum\u00adbe\u00adred. The\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre, we should not count, but only make sure that the Lord is with us and we are with Him. \tWhy did God not want Isra\u00adel to attri\u00adbu\u00adte the vic\u00adto\u00adry to them\u00adsel\u00adves (v.2)? What would be so bad about that? Gideon lays out the fleece twice and recei\u00adves con\u00adfir\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon that God wants to give him vic\u00adto\u00adry against Midi\u00adan. His army con\u00adsists of 32,000 men, but they are redu\u00adced to 300. God does not want the Israe\u00adli\u00adtes to boast that they had saved them\u00adsel\u00adves by their own strength. In the batt\u00adle, trumpets play, clay jars and\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","wpfc_preacher":[23],"wpfc_sermon_series":[63],"wpfc_sermon_topics":[],"wpfc_bible_book":[],"wpfc_service_type":[12],"class_list":["wpfc_preacher-matthias-altwegg","wpfc_sermon_series-wie-du-und-ich","wpfc-sermon-single","post-3262","wpfc_sermon","type-wpfc_sermon","status-publish","hentry","wpfc_service_type-gottesdienst"],"acf":[],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t
\nI noti\u00adce that I often prac\u00adti\u00adse this tac\u00adtic in nor\u00admal life as well. I like to be well pre\u00adpared and con\u00adfi\u00addent in what I do. I try to avo\u00adid situa\u00adtions whe\u00adre I might embarrass mys\u00adelf. Ever\u00adyo\u00adne has things that they rely on in life, that they build their self-assu\u00adrance, con\u00adfi\u00addence and cou\u00adra\u00adge on. This can be phy\u00adsi\u00adcal strength, a razor-sharp mind, a con\u00adfi\u00addent and win\u00adning deme\u00adanour, robust health or charm and humour.
\nIn Gideon\u2019s case, what he would have lik\u00aded to rely on falls away in a situa\u00adti\u00adon of ten\u00adsi\u00adon. This does not hap\u00adpen by chan\u00adce or by a stro\u00adke of fate \u2013 no, God deli\u00adbera\u00adte\u00adly takes this secu\u00adri\u00adty away from him.
\nThe too num\u00ade\u00adrous army
\nThe army of Midi\u00adan united with other bel\u00adli\u00adger\u00adents in an alli\u00adance against Isra\u00adel. \u00abThen the Spi\u00adrit of the Lord came upon Gideon. With a ram\u2019s horn he cal\u00adled to arms\u00bb (Jud\u00adges 6:34 NL<\/span>). The batt\u00adle bet\u00adween Gideon and the Midia\u00adni\u00adtes is immi\u00adnent. The two camps are a few kilo\u00adme\u00adt\u00adres apart. To be sure that God wants to save Isra\u00adel through him, Gideon once again asks for a sign. He lays out a fleece and God empha\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly con\u00adfirms. Then they set out: \u00abJerub\u00adbaal \u2013 that\u2019s Gideon \u2013 and his men set out ear\u00adly in the mor\u00adning [\u2026]\u00bb (Jud\u00adges 7:1 NL<\/span>). Gideon is cal\u00adled Jerub\u00adbaal here in memo\u00adry of his faithful\u00adness in des\u00adtroy\u00ading ido\u00adla\u00adtry. Tog\u00ade\u00adther with 32,000 war\u00adri\u00adors he set out ear\u00adly. This was a sign of his spi\u00adri\u00adtu\u00adal ener\u00adgy. Tog\u00ade\u00adther they cam\u00adped at the spring Harod. This name means \u00abfear\u00bb or \u00abter\u00adror\u00bb. Oppo\u00adsi\u00adte them were count\u00adless enemies (v.12).
\nNevert\u00adhel\u00adess, the Lord says to Gideon: \u00abYou have too many peo\u00adp\u00adle with you. If I were to give you vic\u00adto\u00adry over Midi\u00adan like this, the Israe\u00adli\u00adtes could boast befo\u00adre me that they had saved them\u00adsel\u00adves by their own strength\u00bb (v.2 NL<\/span>). Alt\u00adhough the ene\u00admy pos\u00ads\u00ades\u00adsed an army seve\u00adral times more num\u00ade\u00adrous, it nee\u00added a reduc\u00adtion. It should be cle\u00adar\u00adly seen that Isra\u00adel did not save its\u00adelf by its own strength. \u00abLet him who boasts boast in the Lord!\u00bb (1 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 1:31 Lut).
\nThe neces\u00adsa\u00adry reduction
\nWhat fol\u00adlows now is a two-step reduction:<\/p>\n
\n\tAll tho\u00adse who are com\u00adfor\u00adta\u00adble go home: God now \u00abpuri\u00adfies\u00bb tho\u00adse who are left by lea\u00adding them to the water. Only tho\u00adse who refres\u00adhed them\u00adsel\u00adves in has\u00adte ins\u00adtead of com\u00adfor\u00adta\u00adb\u00adly quen\u00adching their thirst were qua\u00adli\u00adfied for the batt\u00adle. \u00abOnly 300 men sip\u00adped the water from their hands. All the rest knelt down to drink\u00bb (Jud\u00adges 7:6 NL<\/span>). Gideon took only tho\u00adse sol\u00addiers who had licked water with their ton\u00adgues while wal\u00adking. In the Law of War men\u00adtio\u00adned abo\u00adve, the\u00adre was a simi\u00adlar injunc\u00adtion: the occu\u00adpa\u00adti\u00adons of life, buil\u00adding a house, plan\u00adting a viney\u00adard and beco\u00adming enga\u00adged to a wife were a bar to going into batt\u00adle (Deut 20:5\u20137). The 300 men were wil\u00adling to give up ever\u00ady\u00adthing for a sin\u00adgle cau\u00adse (cf. Phil\u00adip\u00adpians 3:8, 13, 14). They did not lose them\u00adsel\u00adves in earth\u00adly things and did not make them\u00adsel\u00adves com\u00adfor\u00adta\u00adble on earth. It is pro\u00adphe\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly said of the Lord Jesus: \u00abBut He Hims\u00adelf will refresh Hims\u00adelf at the brook on the way, the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre He will be vic\u00adto\u00adrious\u00bb (Psalm 110:7 NL<\/span>). Deter\u00admi\u00adned, He went up to Jeru\u00adsa\u00adlem to fight the grea\u00adtest batt\u00adle against the adversary.<\/p>\n
\nGod still acts in such a way today that he choo\u00adses pre\u00adcis\u00ade\u00adly the weak, so that no one may boast befo\u00adre him. Only in His strength can we be strong. That is why He said to Paul: \u00abMy grace is all you need. My strength is shown in your weak\u00adne\u00adss. And now I am con\u00adtent with my weak\u00adne\u00adss, so that the power of Christ may work through me\u00bb (2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 12:9 NL<\/span>). Jesus\u00bb life on this earth was cha\u00adrac\u00adte\u00adri\u00adsed by aut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adty and power (Luke 4:36). Aut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adty and power \u2013 that is the con\u00addi\u00adti\u00adon for a vic\u00adto\u00adrious life. Both belong to the equip\u00adment of every fol\u00adlower of Jesus. If you live with Jesus, you have aut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adty and power.
\nWhen a car is stan\u00adding in the car park, the built-in tur\u00adbo is not much use. But when you step on the gas and turn on the tur\u00adbo, things take off. In the same way, we have to get moving to expe\u00adri\u00adence power and strength. Often we feel rather fear\u00adful or despon\u00addent in advan\u00adce. But when we nevert\u00adhel\u00adess tack\u00adle our chal\u00adlenges in the name of God, the tur\u00adbo is ignited.
\nExamp\u00adles: See\u00adking an upco\u00adming con\u00adver\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon, tack\u00adling things in life, taking on a task, get\u00adting out of a des\u00adtruc\u00adti\u00adve rela\u00adti\u00adonship, taking a clear stand at work, pray\u00ading cou\u00adra\u00adge\u00adous\u00adly for the sick, being salt and light in the neigh\u00adbour\u00adhood, etc.
\nIf \u2013 like in the com\u00adpu\u00adter game \u2013 we want to build up our own army first, it takes too long and life is boring!
\nThe suc\u00adcessful struggle
\nAfter the radi\u00adcal reduc\u00adtion of the army, the LORD<\/span> says to Gideon: \u00abGet up! Go down to the camp of the Midia\u00adni\u00adtes, for I am giving you vic\u00adto\u00adry over them! But if you are afraid to attack them, go down to the camp with your ser\u00advant Pur\u00adah\u00bb (vv.9+10 NL<\/span>). So caring! God meets the fear of Gideon. Tog\u00ade\u00adther with Pur\u00adah, he sneaks into the Midia\u00adni\u00adte camp and just then he over\u00adhe\u00adars a man tel\u00adling his com\u00adra\u00adde a dream about a loaf of bar\u00adley bread that rol\u00adled into the Midia\u00adni\u00adte camp and com\u00adple\u00adte\u00adly des\u00adtroy\u00aded a tent. The com\u00adra\u00adde repli\u00ades: \u00abYour dream can only mean one thing: God has given Gideon son of Joash the Israe\u00adli\u00adte vic\u00adto\u00adry over Midi\u00adan and the allied armies!\u00bb (V.14 NL<\/span>).
\nObvious\u00adly, Gideon has now bro\u00adken through in trus\u00adting God: \u00abWhen Gideon heard the dream and its inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon, he pro\u00adstra\u00adted hims\u00adelf befo\u00adre God and than\u00adked him. Then he retur\u00adned to the Israe\u00adli\u00adte camp and cried out: \u00abGet up! The Lord has given you vic\u00adto\u00adry over the Midia\u00adni\u00adtes!\u00bb \u00bb (V.15 NL<\/span>). Even befo\u00adre he goes into batt\u00adle, he wor\u00adships and thanks God. This is an important spi\u00adri\u00adtu\u00adal prin\u00adci\u00adple. We may wor\u00adship and give thanks for the pro\u00admi\u00adses even befo\u00adre we see the result. Jesus says, \u00abWha\u00adte\u00adver you ask for in pray\u00ader \u2013 belie\u00adve that you have recei\u00adved it, and you will recei\u00adve it\u00bb (Mark 11:24 NL<\/span>). Just last Sun\u00adday someone told me how, in a phy\u00adsi\u00adcal com\u00adplaint, she stop\u00adped pray\u00ading and just gave thanks. And \u2013 God inter\u00adven\u00aded impressively.
\nEach was given a trumpet, an emp\u00adty jar and a torch in the jar. This is the pic\u00adtu\u00adre of the com\u00adple\u00adte tes\u00adtim\u00ado\u00adny that God ent\u00adrusts to us for the batt\u00adle against Satan and the world. The trumpet speaks of the Word of God and was used here to go into batt\u00adle. The jars that had pro\u00adba\u00adb\u00adly con\u00adtai\u00adned the people\u2019s food were now emp\u00adty (vv.8.16). The\u00adse wort\u00adhl\u00adess ves\u00adsels of clay were now to be bro\u00adken. They are a pic\u00adtu\u00adre of human natu\u00adre, which must dis\u00adap\u00adpear befo\u00adre the work of God. Howe\u00adver, the jars con\u00adtai\u00adned the third ele\u00adment of God\u2019s tes\u00adtim\u00ado\u00adny, name\u00adly the tor\u00adches which repre\u00adsent the divi\u00adne light. When the jar is bro\u00adken, the light shi\u00adnes forth.
\nGideon\u2019s stra\u00adtegy was for every figh\u00adter to look to him and imi\u00adta\u00adte him (v.17). The appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon for us is as simp\u00adle as it is important: we are to look to Christ in faith, espe\u00adci\u00adal\u00adly when we are in spi\u00adri\u00adtu\u00adal war\u00adfa\u00adre. Vic\u00adto\u00adry would be won by the simp\u00adle cry, \u00abFor the LORD<\/span> and for Gideon!\u00bb (V.18 NL<\/span>). After smas\u00adhing the jars, the sol\u00addiers car\u00adri\u00aded only their torch in their left hand and their trumpet in their right. As they did so, they utte\u00adred the cry of vic\u00adto\u00adry (v.19f). Thus human weak\u00adne\u00adss dis\u00adap\u00adpears for the one who has put on the \u00abwea\u00adpons of light\u00bb and car\u00adri\u00ades the \u00abwea\u00adpons of righ\u00adteous\u00adness on his right hand and on his left\u00bb (Romans 13:12; 2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 6:7).
\nIn 2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 4, the ana\u00adlo\u00adgy to this sto\u00adry is found: Paul descri\u00adbes that the light is \u00abthe radi\u00adance of God\u2019s glo\u00adry, made visi\u00adble to us in the face of Jesus Christ\u00bb (v.6 NL<\/span>). Just as the tor\u00adches were in the jars befo\u00adre the batt\u00adle, so we car\u00adry this tre\u00adasu\u00adre in ear\u00adthen ves\u00adsels: \u00abWe, howe\u00adver, are but as fra\u00adgi\u00adle ves\u00adsels to this pre\u00adcious tre\u00adasu\u00adre ent\u00adrus\u00adted to us, for let it be clear that the all-sur\u00adpas\u00adsing power at work in our lives is God\u2019s power and does not come from our\u00adsel\u00adves\u00bb (v.7 NG\u00dc<\/span>). Then it beco\u00admes very con\u00adcre\u00adte: \u00abYou and I, we are a ves\u00adsel in which the light of God burns. The ves\u00adsel must be bro\u00adken. Through suf\u00adfe\u00adring we con\u00adstant\u00adly expe\u00adri\u00adence in our own bodies the death of Christ, so that his life may also be made visi\u00adble in our bodies\u00bb (v.10 NL<\/span>). In Paul\u2019s exam\u00adp\u00adle we see that such brea\u00adking hap\u00adpens through aff\u00adlic\u00adtion, hope\u00adl\u00adess\u00adness, per\u00adse\u00adcu\u00adti\u00adon and in situa\u00adtions whe\u00adre we are cast down (v.8f). Some\u00adti\u00admes God has to \u00abbreak\u00bb our bodies in order to glo\u00adri\u00adfy hims\u00adelf in our lives.
\n
\nSo Gideon demons\u00adtra\u00adted with the brea\u00adking of the jars, the bur\u00adning tor\u00adches and the trumpets that he trusts com\u00adple\u00adte\u00adly in God\u2019s power, who is strong in our weak\u00adne\u00adss. This is the only way to explain what hap\u00adpens now: The enemies des\u00adtroy\u00aded each other (v.22). The vic\u00adto\u00adry was won only through God. This stra\u00adtegy also leads to vic\u00adto\u00adry in your life. If you have accept\u00aded Jesus Christ into your life, then the light burns in you. We are allo\u00adwed to allow breaka\u00adge and weak\u00adne\u00adss, to attack cou\u00adra\u00adge\u00adous\u00adly and then expe\u00adri\u00adence that vic\u00adto\u00adry is only won through God.
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\nPos\u00adsi\u00adble ques\u00adti\u00adons for the small groups
\nRead Bible text: Jud\u00adges 7; 2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 4:7\u201311<\/p>\n
\n\tWhy were the peo\u00adp\u00adle who were with Gideon too num\u00ade\u00adrous to fight against Midi\u00adan (v.2)? What can we learn from this (cf. 1 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 1:26\u201329; 2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 12:9)?
\n\tIn the batt\u00adle against Midi\u00adan the\u00adre were ori\u00adgi\u00adnal\u00adly 32,000 war\u00adri\u00adors, but in the end the\u00adre were only 300. What cri\u00adte\u00adria were used to sel\u00adect the warriors?
\n\tPaul speaks of us having \u00abthis tre\u00adasu\u00adre in ear\u00adthen ves\u00adsels\u00bb (2 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 4:7). What does that mean? What does it mean when this ves\u00adsel is broken?
\n\tWhat enemies are you curr\u00adent\u00adly expe\u00adri\u00aden\u00adcing in your life? What tac\u00adtics will you use to attack them?<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"