Judges 7:1-8 – Quality believers matter

One key lesson we need to deeply edge in our heart is that success in our spiritual life has to do with absolute trust in God. While skills, knowledge and people would help in the progress we desire, it is our absolute faith and trust in the Lord that must be the pre-eminence. Hebrews 11:6 rightly says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, He that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” God wants us to depend on Him absolutely. We see this principle demonstrated in Judges 7:1-8. In this passage, we see how God taught Gideon to trust in Him and not in the number of people who would fight with him. God literally got him to reduce his force of fighting men from 32,000 to 300. God wanted Gideon to know that having 32,000 nonchalant and careless men to make up the number was no advantage. What he needed to secure victory in the conflict could be achieved with much lesser but quality soldiers. God gave him a process to select the men that would be ready for the battle. The huge number means nothing if they were not serious-minded and quality people, who understood the mission and were ready for the battle.

Here we see Gideon and his 32,000 men stationed at the spring of Harod to confront the Midianites who were camped at the valley of Jezreel. Just the day before Gideon launched into battle, the Lord told him that his army was too large. In fact, they were far too many for them to be an effective force in the mission. Besides, if they were victorious in the battle, they would conclude that the victory they had secured was because of their own power. It is so true that people do have the tendency to attribute success to their own ingenuity, thinking that they are successful because of their own inventiveness. That would take away the praise that is due to God alone.

So, in verse 2, God instructed Gideon to use the same principle prescribed in Deuteronomy 20:8, used in the time of Moses. That verse says “Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’” Gideon did what he was instructed to do and immediately 22,000 men left, leaving him only with 10,000 men to face the Midianites stationed in the valley of Jezreel. Gideon, of course, was apprehensive. Who would not when two-third of one’s force was reduced? As if that reduction was not enough, God told him that the remaining 10,000 in his fighting force was still far too many. He then gave him a way to select the appropriate people who would be effective.  God told him to put those 10,000 men to a test to check on their battle readiness.

In verses 4-8 we see the prescribed test. Gideon was to take the 10,000 men to the water and he was to separate those who knelt down and lapped water like a dog from those who stood, scooped the water from the stream and brought it close to their mouth to drink it. Nine thousand and seven hundred of them knelt down and lapped the water from the stream like a dog. But 300 remained standing, scooped the water with the cupped hand and drank it. This was an indication that they were alert even when they were drinking the water. So the 9,700 were dismissed and only 300 were selected for the battle. More than just about the way they drank the water, the purpose of the account is to tell us that number would count for nothing if they were not serious and quality fighters. It is better to have fewer but quality people than a huge number but not serious one. The principle we learn here is that number would count for nothing if they are not serious and mission-minded people. It is better to have fewer people who meant business with God. We also learn that the selection of people for the mission is needful. No point having people that would make up the number. Few but quality people is far better than many that would just make up the crowd.