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[The ever-timid Gideon is now ready to lead 300 men into the camp of the Midianites.]

“Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. ‘Watch me, ‘he told them. ‘Follow the lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon.”’

“Gideon and the three hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch [midnight], just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’

“While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, ‘Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.’ They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.” (Judges 6:33 – 7:25)

End Time Parallels

There are a few end time parallels in the story of Gideon to consider. Here are four:

1.      The empowerment of Gideon and his army parallels the 144,000.

First, God chose a timid, self-depreciating man. Then, God reduced Gideon’s army to a mere 300 soldiers to eliminate any possibility for Gideon or a nation of Israel to claim victory over the Midianites. Similar circumstances will occur during the Great Tribulation. Contrary to what many people believe, God is not going to use a religious denomination to preach the gospel to the world. Instead, He will handpick a few thousand people like Gideon. God’s 144,000 servants will not be arrogant people, nor will they be influential scholars or great preachers. For the most part, they will be ordinary people. The victory they achieve will be the Lord’s doing, not theirs! The ratio of God’s servants to the population of the world will be one per 50,000 people. God like impossible odds. God will not share His glory with man. God is above man. God is omnipotent and He will show His strength through human weakness. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

2.      God’s wrath parallels the seven trumpets and the seven bowls.

God’s punishment of Israel (seven years of occupation by the Midianites) was justified and God’s destructive wrath toward the Midianites was also justified! God gives every nation a measure of grace and a cup to measure iniquity. Grace runs out when the cup overflows with iniquity. When the majority of a nation’s citizens conduct themselves in a way that is offensive to the “Lord of the Land, “ He moves into action. God’s actions are redemptive at first. If they fail to accomplish redemption, God’s judgments eventually become destructive. Historians may disagree with me, but I believe war is the handiwork of God. He uses one nation to destroy another when the offending nation fills its cup of iniquity. Then, if necessary, God destroys the destroyer if He deems it appropriate. Nations rise and fall – not by the prowess of man, but by divine decree. (See Daniel 5.)

God’s wrath against Israel and the Midianites parallels the seven trumpets and the seven bowls of Revelation, respectively. The seven trumpets will be seven first plagues that have a generous measure of mercy mixed in. The seven trumpet judgments are redemptive judgments. This is why the quantity of “one third” is mentioned twelve times during the seven trumpets. God spares two-thirds! The seven bowls are the seven last plagues. These judgments have no mercy mixed in. God utterly destroys Earth and everyone on Earth (except the saints) by the time the events of the seventh bowl conclude. We see both types of judgments in the book of Judges. Israel received redemptive judgments and the Midianites received destructive judgments. (Eventually, Israel also received a destructive judgment as well.)

3.      The confusion and defeat of the Midianites

Gideon and his army shattered the stillness of the night. Out of nowhere there came “a large army” with lights and trumpets. Generals in ancient times customarily directed their armies by the sound of “a “trumpet. The emphasis here on the word “a” is important. If there were many trumpets, no one would know which trumpet to follow. A soldier would hear multiple trumpets when various battalions converged on a battle. When the Midianites awoke to the sound of 300 trumpets, they had one thought. We are out gunned and vastly out numbered!” Their resulting panic confirms this point.

When God’s judgments (the seven trumpets) begin, the world will be taken by complete surprise. The world will awaken to a new reality. The inhabitants of Earth will realize there is a living God and He is a deadly, formidable force. The ensuing panic will confirm this. To those people who have set their face and lives against God’s laws, this will come as a complete surprise – like a sneak attack. God is about to send panic through the camp of His enemies. Eventually, the wicked will be destroyed and the saints of God will at last have peace on Earth! The occupation of His land will be over and the saints will live happily ever after.

4.      The trumpets and the lamps

In ancient times, wars were not typically fought in darkness. It was too risky. Warfare was often hand-to-hand and close proximity to the enemy was necessary. In total darkness, it is impossible to tell a friend from an enemy! When Gideon’s army startled the sleeping Midianites with shouting, 300 blazing lamps and 300 blaring trumpets, the Midianites instinctively knew they could not survive the battle. The Lord filled the hearts of Israel’s enemy with overwhelming panic so that they fled in fear. This scenario also describes how the wicked will feel when the Great Tribulation begins. Fear will be everywhere. Anxiety will be out of control. Jesus said there would be distress that has no equal since the beginning of the world! (Matthew 24:21) Paul wrote, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (Hebrews 10:26,27) During the Great Tribulation, wicked people will have no rest, day or night (Revelation 14:11) because the Lord will fill their hearts with fear and anxiety.

During the Great Tribulation, god will send His servants, the 144,000, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every kindred, tongue and nation. People who love the light illuminating the truth will step forward into the light and unite themselves with God’s servants. The saints will have peace in the middle of the raging, chaotic storm. People who love iniquity will run for cover of darkness so their deeds will not be seen in the light. In the darkness of sin, Paul writes there is a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire. God will ensure it for He wants everyone to come to repentance. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” (2 Peter 3:9-11)

The Cycles continue

“Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years. Jerub-Baal [Gideon] son of Joash went back home to live. He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech. Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.” (Judges 8:28-34, insertion mine) As far as I know, Gideon holds the world record for having the largest number of children. (I do not know what happened – he was timid guy at first!) If Gideon had 70 sons (and 70 daughters), his offspring would number around 140 children! In a way, Gideon’s heritage parallels the ministry of the 144,000. Through the efforts of the 144,000, Abraham’s seed will grow into a numberless multitude during the Great Tribulation! “…And there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands…. Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘ Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘these are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:9, 13,14)

Regrettably, this story ends where it begins. When Gideon died, the next generation prostituted themselves to the Baals again. If Israel’s history proves anything, it proves how quickly and how easily so may people be able to turn away from obeying the Lord. We would do well to take note of this fact as we draw near to the Great Day of the Lord! Remember, if we had been there after Gideon’s died, some of us may have followed the rebellious majority.

Quiz:

1.      In your own words, what is the difference between submission to the Lord and rebellion against Him?

2.      Have you taken a look at your own human nature and what do you see?

3.      Have you ever suffered because of your faith in the Lord?  Explain one example!

4.      Can you see that the Seventh Day Sabbath is still important in God’s eye for His children that live today?

5.      Have you ever tested the Lord too see if He’s listening to your prayers?

6.      What would you do if the Lord personally spoke to you and asked to do a work for Him?

7.      Do you now realize after studying the story of Gideon, that if God is with you, who can be against you and win?

Notes:

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