Gideon – Mighty Man of Valor and the Brave 300 Men of YAHUAH
Gideon or Gedeon, also named Jerubbaal, and Jerubbesheth, was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in chapters 6 to 8 of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Abiezrite clan in the tribe of Manasseh and lived in Ephra (Ophrah).
As a leader of the Yisraelites, he won a decisive victory over a Midianite army despite a vast numerical disadvantage, leading a troop of 300 ‘valiant’ men.
As is the pattern throughout the Book of Judges, the Yisraelites again turned away from YAHUAH after 40 years of peace brought by Deborah’s victory over Canaan, and Midianites, Amalekites and other Bedouin peoples harried YIsrael for seven years. YAHUAH chose Gideon, a young man from the tribe of Manasseh, to free the people of YIsrael and to condemn their idolatry. The Angel of the YAHUAH, or “YAHUAH’s angelic messenger” (Judges 6:11 NET) came “in the character … of a traveller who sat down in the shade [of the terebinth tree] to enjoy a little refreshment and repose” and entered into conversation with Gideon.
The narrative has echoes of the meeting between Abraham and the visitors who came to him in the terebinth trees of Mamre and promised Abraham and Sarah, in their old age, that they would have a son (Genesis 18:1-15)
The Angel of YAHUAH greeted Gideon:
YAHUAH is with you, you mighty man of valor!
Gideon – Mighty Man of Valor and the Brave 300 Men of YAHUAH
1. YAHUAH, the Almighty ELOHIYM of Yisra’el (Israel), allowed several nations to test His people’s allegiance.
Overcoming these nations would be an impossible task for Yisra’el (Israel), if she fought in her own strength or even if she sought help from unbelieving allies.
The only way that Yisra’el (Israel) could win its battles was – if YAHUAH was with her. Without His presence, Yisra’el (Israel) would never be able to stand, let alone defeat her opponents.
But with the QODESH (Holy) One of Yisra’el (Israel) on her side, no enemy – however powerful – could even hope to overcome Yisra’el (Israel).
If, however, Yisra’el (Israel) forsook the Almighty and disobeyed His Torah (instructions), the Almighty said – over and over again – that He would withdraw His holy presence and Yisra’el’s (Israel’s) defeat by her enemies would be inevitable.
Most of the Old Testament books of the Scriptures tell of these facts over and over again.
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NOW these are the nations which YAHUAH left, to prove Yisra’el by them, even as many of Yisra’el as had not known all the wars of Kena’an;
Only that the generations of the children of Yis’rael might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
Namely, five lords of the Pelishtiym, and all the Kena’aniym, and the Tsiydoniym, and the Chivviym that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Ba’al Chermon unto the entering in of Chamath.
And they were to prove Yisra’el by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of YAHUAH, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Mosheh.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 3:1-4
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Most of us have never fought in a literal war. To be sure we have lived through a world war, and some of us through two world wars, but most of us have not been on the actual battlefield – in the front line!
So what can we learn from these Scripture accounts of battles?
Why were they recorded?
Are they merely historical records, or do they have lessons for us in this century?
The answer is: they contain vital lessons which are applicable to all believers in all ages.
2. YISRA’EL’S (ISRAEL’S) SIN / HARASSMENT
When we study Scripture we learn that every time Yisra’el (Israel) blatantly disobeyed YAHUAH’s commandments the Most High handed Yisra’el (Israel) over to her enemies.
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AND the children of Yisra’el did evil in the sight of YAHUAH: and YAHUAH delivered them into the hand of Midyan seven years.
And the hand of Midyan prevailed against Yis’rael: and because of the Midyaniym the children of Yisra’el made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds.
And so it was, when Yis’rael had sown, that the Midyaniym came up, and the Amaleqiym, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them,
and destroyed the increase of the earth, till you come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Yisra’el, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
And Yisra’el was greatly impoverished because of the Midyaniym; and the children of Yisra’el cried unto YAHUAH.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:1-6
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And the anger of YAHUAH was hot against Yisra’el, and he sold them into the hands of the Pelishtiym, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 10:7
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3. PROPHETIC EXPLANATION
But the Almighty is a merciful ELOHIYM. Every time Yisra’el (Israel) repented of her sins, cried unto YAHUAH and returned to the pathway of faithful obedience, YAHUAH delivered His people from their enemies.
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And Yisra’el was greatly impoverished because of the Midyaniym; and the children of Yisra’el cried unto YAHUAH.
And it came to pass, when the children of Yisra’el cried unto EL-YAHUAH because of the Midyaniym,
That YAHUAH sent a prophet unto the children of Yisra’el, which said unto them, Thus says YAHUAH ELOHAI of Yisra’el, I brought you up from Mitsrayim, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Mitsriym, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
And I said unto you, I am YAHUAH ELOHAYKEM; fear not the elohai of the Emoriym, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:6-10
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4. GIDEON
Gideon was a man who had no idea that he could be a mighty warrior and judge. Consider our introduction to this amazing man of valor.
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And the angel of YAHUAH appeared unto him, and said unto him, YAHUAH is with you, you mighty man of valour.
And Gid’on said unto him, Oh my ADONAI, if YAHUAH be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not YAHUAH bring us up from Mitsrayim? but now YAHUAH has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midyaniym.
And YAHUAH looked upon him, and said, Go in this your might, and you shall save Yisra’el from the hand of the Midyaniym: have not I sent you?
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:12-14
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5. RESERVATIONS
Gideon’s astonishment at this amazing salutation and command is understandable: we would probably have echoed his feelings.
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And he said unto him, Oh my ADONAI, wherewith shall I save Yisra’el? behold, my family is poor in Menashsheh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:15
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How can I do this? I am poor and of no importance. I just do not have what’s needed to fight the enemy.
6. I WILL BE WITH THEE
Notice how YAHUAH dismissed these apparent disadvantages with this wonderful promise.
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And YAHUAH said unto him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midyaniym as one man.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:16
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In other words He said, Gideon you are wrong in your assessment as to what is needed for victory because:
“I WILL BE WITH YOU.”
And that, dear friends, is all that we need for victory: the Almighty’s presence in our lives. You may read the Scripture from cover to cover and you will not find a greater promise than YAHUAH and His Son’s promise to BE WITH US.
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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, immersing them in the Name:
Teaching them to guard all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amein.
MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 28:19-20
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7. FIRST THINGS FIRST
True though the foregoing facts may be, victory can never be achieved until certain mandatory conditions are met. They are:
Faith/Belief in YAHUAH and YAHUSHA (the Rock of Yisra’el (Israel)
Obedience to the Almighty’s QODESH (holy) Torah.
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And it came to pass the same night, that YAHUAH said unto him, Take your father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Ba’al that your father has, and cut down the Asherah pole that is by it:
And build an altar unto YAHUAH ELOHAYKA upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the Asherah pole which you shall cut down.
SHOFETIYM (JUDGES) 6:25-26
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8. THE SWORD OF GIDEON
Even by human standards, the sword of Gideon was very weak. He didn’t have money, power, influence or military training. Besides he was of little or no importance in Yisra’el (Israel). Or so he thought.
The fact was that he did have Belief in YAHUAH. When asked to ‘cut down the altar of Baal’ he obeyed.
Thus his faith and obedience made him a mighty man of valor!
He also offered up an acceptable sacrifice to YAHUAH, a kid and unleavened cakes, both symbolic of the Savior’s sacrifice and life.
I repeat, Gideon’s sword was Belief and Obedience.
And that my dear friends, is all that is needed in this day of unbelief and blatant sin.
9. THE SWORD OF YAHUAH
The sword of YAHUAH, as we would expect, is infinitely powerful. No enemy can stand before it.
Currently there are over 100 translations of the English Bible available; all claiming to be the Word of YAHUAH, the Sword of the Spirit!
This is one of the greatest tragedies of our time. We recommend a copy of the original manuscripts or Hebrew and Greek Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition Translations! Impossible things are accomplished if we remember the mandatory requirements for victory:
Belief and Obedience.
YAHUAH’s Presence. Gideon recognized the value of YAHUAH’s presence. Do you?
Besides faith and obedience the sword of Gideon also included trumpets (‘shofars’) and frail pitchers which contained nothing but light. And only when the pitchers were broken and the shofars sounded did the Almighty step in and bring victory.
10. THE BATTLE
Without a doubt this was one of the most amazing battles ever witnessed.
Notice I didn’t say ‘ever fought’ because Gideon’s army didn’t really do much physical fighting.
They merely believed, let their light shine and sounded forth their trumpets (Shofars). They then stood still and witnessed YAHUAH win an amazing victory. And yet in one important sense they did fight a battle. They fought and overcame enemies within:
Doubt: That the Almighty YAHUAH was with them.
Error: They put out all pagan worship.
Poverty: They had no money, no equipment, no battle experience.
Insignificance: Remember that only 300 of the 30,000 remained with Gideon to go up to the battle.
Pride: They were willing to let their lights shine.
Selfishness: They were willing to be broken.
Silence: They blew their trumpets (shofars) and cried aloud. The sword of YAHUAH and of Gideon.
Concerning our role in this respect we read in the prophecy of YESHA’YAHU:
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CRY aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a shofar, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Ya’aqov their sins.
YESHA’YAHU (ISAIAH) 58:1
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Today we face a similar situation on the spiritual battlefield. We face many enemies. Are we ready for the spiritual battle? Or will we turn back like the first volunteers who presented themselves to Gideon?
YES, TO DAY IS THE DAY OF BATTLE.
But we must remember that the battle is YAHUAH’s. As far as most of us believers are concerned, the battlefield is in the human mind. How are you faring? Are you winning your battles against sin and doubt? Are you willing to let your light shine? Do you speak up for the truth? Do you testify that you are a believer in YAHUSHA?
Or are you like the children of Ephrayim?
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The children of Ephrayim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 78:9
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In your own life, victory on an amazing scale is possible. But it depends on you. Think about it.
