Gideon: a loaf of barley
“This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp” (Judges 7:14).
Yesterday we considered the importance of watchfulness. There are two aspects to this which Paul emphasises to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (v. 28). Paul was encouraging the elders in their responsibility to be watchful over their own lives to ensure they could care for the flock of God. But we need to be conscious that our field of vision is limited. We don’t see everything. That is why Paul adds later, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (v. 32). God does see everything and is able, not only to keep us, but to build us up in the light of our future inheritance in Christ.
As Gideon awaited the battle, conscious of all that lay before him, a great sense of responsibility must have filled his heart and mind. He had God’s promises and the evidence of His presence. God had given Gideon the signs he had wanted, but then God had reduced his army to a small force compared to the vast armies of the enemy he faced. His faith was being tested.
Yet God was watching over Gideon. He anticipated his fears and moved in grace to strengthen His servant, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand” (v. 9). What God says next is important. It shows us that when God asks us to exercise faith, He is also mindful of our weakness and need for support. He tells Gideon, “But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.” The Lord sent His disciples out in twos. Fellowship provides encouragement. When Paul felt abandoned in 2 Timothy 4, he wrote, “Only Luke is with me” (v. 11). I cannot think of a better companion than Luke, “the beloved physician”, when facing hard times. Thank God for faithful and spiritual friends when we need them!
So Gideon went down to the camp of the Midianites with God’s promise that “your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp” (v. 11). What he saw was a company so vast in number, it seemed invincible. But it is not what Gideon saw, but what he heard that filled his heart with faith and confidence. He listened to one of the guards telling his companion about his dream of a loaf of barley bread destroying a tent. The guard clearly understood this was a sign that God had delivered to Gideon the victory over Midian. Gideon’s response was to worship, and to return to Israel’s camp and his 300 men in victorious faith. In the New Testament, the Lord showed what He could do when a child placed five barley loaves in His hands (John 6:9).
We should never stop watching and praying for ourselves and our fellow believers. We should remember the Lord is constantly watching over us, knowing the battles we face and enabling us to be victorious through faith in Him.
