Overheard Others

O. T. #524  "Overheard Others"
May 26, 2015
Judges 7-Part 2
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel...   Judges 7:15

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever overheard people talking? Sometimes it doesn't matter if they know you are there listening or not. They continue the conversation. Other times, it does matter and they change their topic. Aren't there times that you are encouraged and times you are discouraged or disappointed by what you hear? That happened to Gideon one night.

We left Gideon with his army whittled down to 300 men. During that night, the Lord spoke to Gideon with some instructions:

• Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it (Midian camp) into your hands.
• If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying.
• Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.
• So Gideon and Purah went down to the outposts of the camp of the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples, thick like locusts.
• Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
• Gideon overheard a man telling a friend his dream: A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.
• His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."

Phurah  means foliage, indicating that Gideon was hiding behind his armorbearer! (Falwell)

Seeing the camp of his enemy, Gideon must have been more fearful than ever. That is, until he overheard the guards talking to each other. What an encouraging word to hear, right from the enemy's mouth. What can encourage a coward more than hearing that his enemy is afraid of him?

The significance of the dream was to convince Gideon that the Midianites were more afraid of him than he was of them! Thus, God would use an encouraged coward to frighten the enemy away! (Falwell)

A cake of barley  bread might be a worthless thing, but if God were behind it, it would upset a tent!  (Meyer)

Oh, the things God uses. Do you recall when Jesus used a lad's 2 loaves of bread to help feed a multitude?

Don't overlook verse 15, where it says that Gideon worshipped and returned to the Israeli camp.

When God asks us to do hard things for Him, He guides us, keeps us, encourages us all along the way. (Guzik)

Spurgeon said, "He that has ordered this matter can order all things else."

God can give us a little bit of things to cheer us up.

Are you facing a battle with internal or external foes that have defeated you in the past or appear invincible today? God can give you the strength you need for any situation. And don't be startled by the way he helps you. Like Gideon, you must listen to God and be ready to take the first step. Only after you begin to obey God will you find the courage to move ahead.

LET IT GO

Obey God, even when it is hard.

Look for encouragement around me.

Love others in spite of them.

Keep holding onto faith in Jesus.