Judges

Judges 7: The LORD alone deserves the glory

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how the LORD saves by His power and leaves no room to boast, let us come to Him together. Ask Him to humble our hearts and to help us see Christ, who saves sinners by His own power.

The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.

Ezra 8:22

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Please expose our pride as we hear how You saved Israel. Help us see Christ's saving power and thank You for His mercy. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD reduces Gideon's army to three hundred so Israel cannot boast that its own strength has saved it. He then sends Gideon and Purah into the enemy camp, where a dream and its interpretation strengthen Gideon. After worshiping, Gideon divides his men into three companies carrying trumpets, pitchers and torches. Their sudden noise and light surround the camp, and the LORD turns the enemy's swords against one another. Israel pursues the fleeing army, while Ephraim seizes the waters of the Jordan and kills Midian's princes Oreb and Zeeb.

As you read Judges 7, look for the answers:

• Why does the LORD say Gideon has too many men? (verse 2)
• Who turns the enemy soldiers against one another? (verse 22)

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD saves by His power, so His people have no reason to boast in themselves.

God says Gideon's army is too large, because Israel would boast that its own hand had saved it (verse 2). Twenty-two thousand fearful men go home, and the drinking test leaves only three hundred to face an army as many as locusts (verse 12). Then God lets Gideon overhear an enemy's dream, where a cake of barley bread rolls into the camp and flattens a tent. Barley bread was plain, cheap food, a fitting picture of Gideon's small and weak army. Even the enemy says, “God has delivered Midian into his hand,” and Gideon worships before he fights. The three hundred come in the middle of the night, when the camp is asleep and the watch has just changed. They only blow trumpets, break pitchers and hold up torches, while the LORD sets every man's sword against his fellow (verse 22). No one in Israel can say his own hand won this battle, because the LORD gave the victory.

How does Judges 7 show us that the LORD saves by His power, so His people have no reason to boast in themselves?

God removes Israel's grounds for boasting.

The LORD says Israel might claim that its own hand has saved it (verse 2). Twenty-two thousand frightened men leave, and the drinking test reduces the remaining ten thousand to three hundred. God's promise, rather than the army's size, must carry their hope.

God strengthens Gideon to act on His promise.

The LORD sends Gideon and Purah down to hear the enemy camp. A man describes a barley cake overturning a tent, and his companion interprets it as Midian's defeat (verses 13 and 14). Gideon worships and returns to call the men into battle.

The LORD defeats the army and sends it fleeing.

Gideon's men sound trumpets, break pitchers and hold up their torches. The LORD sets the enemy's swords against one another while the three hundred stand in place (verses 21 and 22). Israel pursues, and Ephraim takes the river waters and kills Oreb and Zeeb.

Memorise

By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand.

Judges 7:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I trust my own strength instead of Jesus to save me?

The LORD reduces the army because Israel might say, “My own hand has saved me.” His rescue leaves no room for that boast. The same pride keeps sinners from admitting that they cannot rescue themselves from guilt and death.

Jesus Christ saves those who have no righteousness of their own to offer God. He lived without sin, then bore the punishment His people deserved when He died on the cross. His completed sacrifice is enough to save every sinner who trusts Him. God raised Him from the dead, and death cannot overturn His victory.

Turn from your sin and your proud claims, and place your trust in Jesus. Salvation is His gift, and your good works cannot purchase it. Give the glory to Christ, whose mercy brings forgiveness to all who rely on Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God saves by His own power, so no one can boast before Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, you may want to explain verse 25 in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for a rescue that displays His power, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 4:10

God of all power, thank You that You save by Your own power, so that no one can boast. Please forgive our proud claims and teach us to depend on You. Bring each of us to trust the risen Savior. Let the good You give us become a reason to praise You. Amen.