patriarchs and prophets-第114部分

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the　Midianites。〃

The　Messenger　of　heaven　replied；　〃Go　in　this　thy　might；　and　thou　shalt　save
Israel　from　the　hand　of　the　Midianites：　have　not　I　sent　thee？〃

Gideon　desired　some　token　that　the　one　now　addressing　him　was　the　Covenant
Angel；　who　in　time　past　had　wrought　for　Israel。　Angels　of　God；　who　communed
with　Abraham；　had　once　tarried　to　share　his　hospitality；　and　Gideon　now
entreated　the　divine　Messenger　to　remain　as　his　guest。　Hastening　to　his
tent；　he　prepared　from　his　scanty　store　a　kid　and　unleavened　cakes；　which　he
brought　forth　and　set　before　Him。　But　the　Angel　bade　him；　〃Take　the　flesh
and　the　unleavened　cakes；　and　lay　them　upon　this　rock；　and　pour　out　the
broth。〃　Gideon　did　so；　and　then　the　sign　which　he　had　desired　was　given：
with　the　staff　in　His　hand；　the　Angel　touched　the　flesh　and　the　unleavened
cakes；　and　a　flame　bursting　from　the　rock　consumed　the　sacrifice。　Then　the
Angel　vanished　from　his　sight。

Gideon's　father；　Joash；　who　shared　in　the　apostasy　of　his　countrymen；　had
erected　at　Ophrah；　where　he　dwelt；　a　large　altar　to　Baal；　at　which　the
people　of　the　town　worshiped。　Gideon　was　commanded　to　destroy　this　altar　and
to　erect　an　altar　to　Jehovah　over　the　rock　on　which　the　offering　had　been
consumed；　and　there　to　present　a　sacrifice　to　the　Lord。　The　offering　of
sacrifice　to　God　had　been　committed　to　the　priests；　and　had　been　restricted
to　the　altar　at　Shiloh；　but　He　who　had　established　the　ritual　service；　and
to　whom　all　its　offerings　pointed；　had　power　to　change　its　requirements。　The
deliverance　of　Israel　was　to　be　preceded　by　a　solemn　protest　against　the
worship　of　Baal。　Gideon　must　declare　war　upon　idolatry　before　going　out　to
battle　with　the　enemies　of　his　people。

The　divine　direction　was　faithfully　carried　out。　Knowing　that　he　would　be
opposed　if　it　were　attempted　openly；　Gideon　performed　the　work　in　secret；
with　the　aid　of　his　servants；　accomplishing　the　whole　in　one　night。　Great
was　the　rage　of　the　men　of　Ophrah　when　they　came　next　morning　to　pay　their
devotions　to　Baal。　They　would　have　taken　Gideon's　life　had　not　Joashwho
had　been　told　of　the　Angel's　visitstood　in　defense　of　his　son。　〃Will　ye
plead　for　Baal？〃　said　Joash。　〃Will　ye　save　him？　he　that　will　plead　for　him；
let　him　be　put　to　death　whilst　it　is　yet

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morning：　if　he　be　a　god；　let　him　plead　for　himself；　because　one　hath　cast
down　his　altar。〃　If　Baal　could　not　defend　his　own　altar；　how　could　he　be
trusted　to　protect　his　worshipers？

All　thoughts　of　violence　toward　Gideon　were　dismissed；　and　when　he　sounded
the　trumpet　of　war；　the　men　of　Ophrah　were　among　the　first　to　gather　to　his
standard。　Heralds　were　dispatched　to　his　own　tribe　of　Manasseh；　and　also　to
Asher；　Zebulum；　and　Naphthali；　and　all　answered　to　the　call。

Gideon　dared　not　place　himself　at　the　head　of　the　army　without　still　further
evidence　that　God　had　called　him　to　his　work；　and　that　He　would　be　with　him。
He　prayed；　〃If　Thou　wilt　save　Israel　by　mine　hand；　as　Thou　hast　said；
behold；　I　will　put　a　fleece　of　wool　in　the　floor；　and　if　the　dew　be　on　the
fleece　only；　and　it　be　dry　upon　all　the　earth　besides；　then　shall　I　know
that　Thou　wilt　save　Israel　by　mine　hand；　as　Thou　hast　said。〃　In　the　morning
the　fleece　was　wet；　while　the　ground　was　dry。　But　now　a　doubt　arose；　since
wool　naturally　absorbs　moisture　when　there　is　any　in　the　air；　the　test　might
not　be　decisive。　Hence　he　asked　that　the　sign　be　reversed；　pleading　that　his
extreme　caution　might　not　displease　the　Lord。　His　request　was　granted。

Thus　encouraged；　Gideon　led　out　his　forces　to　give　battle　to　the　invaders。
〃All　the　Midianites　and　the　Amalekites　and　the　children　of　the　east　were
gathered　together；　and　went　over；　and　pitched　in　the　valley　of　Jezreel。〃　The
entire　force　under　Gideon's　command　numbered　only　thirty…two　thousand　men；
but　with　the　vast　host　of　the　enemy　spread　out　before　him；　the　word　of　the
Lord　came　to　him：　〃The　people　that　are　with　thee　are　too　many　for　Me　to　give
the　Midianites　into　their　hands；　lest　Israel　vaunt　themselves　against　Me；
saying；　Mine　own　hand　hath　saved　me。　Now　therefore　go　to；　proclaim　in　the
ears　of　the　people；　saying；　Whosoever　is　fearful　and　afraid；　let　him　return
and　depart　early　from　Mount　Gilead。〃　Those　who　were　unwilling　to　face　danger
and　hardships；　or　whose　worldly　interests　would　draw　their　hearts　from　the
work　of　God；　would　add　no　strength　to　the　armies　of　Israel。　Their　presence
would　prove　only　a　cause　of　weakness。

It　had　been　made　a　law　in　Israel　that　before　they　went　to　battle　the
following　proclamation　should　be　made　throughout　the　army：　〃What　man　is
there　that　hath　built　a　new　house；　and　hath　not　dedicated　it？　let　him　go　and
return　to　his　house；　lest　he　die　in　the　battle；　and　another　man　dedicate　it。
And　what　man

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is　he　that　hath　planted　a　vineyard；　and　hath　not　yet　eaten　of　it？　let　him
also　go　and　return　unto　his　house；　lest　he　die　in　the　battle；　and　another
man　eat　of　it。　And　what　man　is　there　that　hath　betrothed　a　wife；　and　hath
not　taken　her？　let　him　go　and　return　unto　his　house；　lest　he　die　in　the
battle；　and　another　man　take　her。〃　And　the　officers　were　to　speak　further　to
the　people；　saying；　〃What　man　is　there　that　is　fearful　and　fainthearted？　let
him　go　and　return　unto　his　house；　lest　his　brethren's　heart　faint　as　well　as
his　heart。〃　Deuteronomy　20：5…8。

Because　his　numbers　were　so　few　compared　with　those　of　the　enemy；　Gideon　had
refrained　from　making　the　usual　proclamation。　He　was　filled　with
astonishment　at　the　declaration　that　his　army　was　too　large。　But　the　Lord
saw　the　pride　and　unbelief　existing　in　the　hearts　of　His　people。　Aroused　by
the　stirring　appeals　of　Gideon；　they　had　readily　enlisted；　but　many　were
filled　with　fear　when　they　saw　the　multitudes　of　the　Midianites。　Yet；　had
Israel　triumphed；　those　very　ones　would　have　taken　the　glory　to　themselves
instead　of　ascribing　the　victory　to　God。

Gideon　obeyed　the　Lord's　direction；　and　with　a　heavy　heart　he　saw　twenty…two
thousand；　or　more　than　two　thirds　of　his　entire　force；　depart　for　their
homes。　Again　the　word　of　the　Lord　came　to　him：　〃The　people　are　yet　too　many；
bring　them　down　unto　the　water；　and　I　will　try　them　for　thee　there：　and　it
shall　be；　that　of　whom　I　say　unto　thee；　This　shall　go　with　thee；　the　same
shall　go　with　thee；　and　of　whomsoever　I　say　unto　thee；　This　shall　not　go
with　thee；　the　same　shall　not　go。〃　The　people　were　led　down　to　the
waterside；　expecting　to　make　an　immediate　advance　upon　the　enemy。　A　few
hastily　took　a　little　water　in　the　hand　and　sucked　it　up　as　they　went　on；
but　nearly　all　bowed　upon　their　knees；　and　leisurely　drank　from　the　surface
of　the　stream。　Those　who　took　of　the　water　in　their　hands　were　but　three
hundred　out　of　ten　thousand；　yet　these　were　selected；　all　the　rest　were
permitted　to　return　to　their　homes。

By　the　simplest　means　character　is　often　tested。　Those　who　in　time　of　peril
were　intent　upon　supplying　their　own　wants　were　not　the　men　to　be　trusted　in
an　emergency。　The　Lord　has　no　place　in　His　work　for　the　indolent　and
self…indulgent。　The　men　of　His　choice　were　the　few　who　would　not　permit
their　own　wants　to　delay　them　in　the　discharge　of　duty。　The　three　hundred
chosen　men　not　only　possessed　courage　and

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self…control；　but　they　were　men　of　faith。　They　had　not　defiled　themselves
with　idolatry。　God　could　direct　them；　and　through　them　He　could　work
deliverance　for　Israel。　Success　does　not　depend　upon　numbers。　God　can
deliver　by　few　as　well　as　by　many。　He　is　honored　not　so　much　by　the　great
numbers　as　by　the　character　of　those　who　serve　Him。

The　Israelites　were　stationed　on　the　brow　of　a　hill　overlooking　the　valley
where　the　hosts　of　the　invaders　lay　encamped。　〃And　the　Midianites　and　the
Amalekites　and　all　the　children　of　the　east　lay　along　in　the　valley　like
locusts　for　multitude；　and　their　camels　were　without　number；　as　the　sand
which　is　upon　the　seashore　for　multitude。〃　Judges　7：12；　R。V。　Gideon　trembled
as　he　thought　of　the　conflict　of　the　morrow。　But　the　Lord　spoke　to　him　in
the　night　season　and　bade　him；　with　Phurah　his　attendant；　go　down　to　the
camp　of　the　Midianites；　intimating　that　he　would　there　hear　something　for
his　encouragement。　He　went；　and；　waiting　in　the　darkness　and　silence；　he
heard　a　soldier　relating　a　dream　to　his　companion：　〃Lo；　a　cake　of　barley
bread　tumbled　into　the　host　of　Midian；　and　came　unto　a　tent；　and　smote　it
that　it　fell；　and　overturned　it；　that　the　tent　lay　along。〃　The　other
answered　in　words　that　stirred　the　heart　of　that　unseen　listener；　〃This　is
nothing　else　save　the　sword　of　Gideon　the　son　of　Joash；　a　man　of　Israel：　for
into　his　hand　hath　God　delivered　Midian；　and　all　the　host。〃　Gideon
recognized　the　voice　of　God　speaking　to　him　through　those　Midianitish
strangers。　Returning　to　the　few　men　under　his　command；　he　said；　〃Arise；　for
the　Lord　hath　delivered　into　your　hand　the　host　of　Midian。〃

By　divine　direction　a　plan　of　attack　was　suggested　to　him；　which　he
immediately　set　out　to　execute。　The　three　hundred　men　were　divided　into
three　companies。　To　every　man　were　given　a　trumpet；　and　a　torch　concealed　in
an　earthen　pitcher。　The　men　were　stationed　in　such　a　manner　as　to　approach
the　Midianite　camp　from　different　directions。　In　the　dead　of　night；　at　a
signal　from　Gideon's　war　horn；　the　three　companies　sounded　their　trumpets；
then；　breaking　their　pitchers　and　displaying　the　blazing　torches；　they
rushed　upon　the　enemy　with　the　terrible　war　cry；　〃The　sword　of　the　Lord；　and
of　Gideon！〃

The　sleeping　army　was　suddenly　aroused。　Upon　every　side　was　seen　the　light
of　the　flaming　torches。　In　every　direction　was　heard　the　sound　of　trumpets；
with　the　cry　of　the　assailants。

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Believing　themselves　at　the　mercy　of　an　overwhelming　force；　the　Midianites
were　panic…stricken。　With　wild　cries　of　alarm　they　fled　for　life；　and；
mistaking　their　own　companions　for　enemies；　they　slew　one　another。　As　news
of　the　victory　spread；　thousands　of　the　men　of　Israel　who　had　been　dismissed
to　their　homes　returned　and　joined　in　pursuit　of　their　fleeing　enemies。　The
Midianites　wer