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  5_c.gif Gideon won the Battle with 300 People

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 5_c.gif text- Judges 7:20~22
 
The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.

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Gideon won the Battle with 300 People

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The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. [Judges 7:20~22]

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Midian would harass the Israelites many times.

God let them harass the Israelites because of the Israelites¡¯ sins.

When they had realized their sins the Israelites repented and eagerly prayed to God.

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God listened to the pray of the Israelites.

God called Gideon, who was very weak, as a Judge of Israel.

God made him a courageous leader of Israel because God was with him.

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Gideon gathered soldiers to blow trumpet for the battle with Midian.

There were about 32,000 Israelite soldiers ready to go into the battle.

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But the Midian soldiers outnumbered the Israelites by a lot.

It would be very difficult for the Israelites to win against Midian.

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Yet, God said to Gideon "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave." As soon as Gideon said that to the soldiers, twenty two thousand men left.

And only ten thousand remained.

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God said "There are still many men."

And God said, "Take them down to the water. Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.

And leave those who kneel down to drink." So Gideon did.

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God said to Gideon "I will make you win the battle with three hundred men who lapped with their hands to their mouths." There were only three hundred men and it seemed impossible for them to win the battle with this number.

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God said to Gideon

"Get up and attack Midian camp and I will make you win the battle."

Gideon obeyed as God's command and the remaining three hundred men to battle.

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Gideon divided one hundred men into three groups.

They held trumpet and empty jars in the hands.

They hid torches in the empty jars.

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They got to the edge of the camp midnight.

The soldiers of Midian were in a deep sleep and completely unaware of what was happening.

Because they hid the torches in the empty jars, soldiers of Midian noticed nothing.

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When Gideon and soldiers were close to Midian's camp,

They blew their trumpets all together according to their plan.

The sound of three hundred trumpets shook the heavens and earth at midnight.

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And then they broke the jars that were in their hands at the same time.

The three hundred soldiers grasped the torches in their left hands.

They held in their right hands their trumpet.

Fear was in the eyes of the Midianites when they saw how many soldiers came to attack them.

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The Midianites who were ambushed at midnight were so scared.

God made the Midianites fight each other with their swords.

A lot of the Midianite soldiers died and many of those who lived ran away.

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Three hundred soldiers of Gideon defeated the Midianites and won the battle. Although there were more Midianite soldiers, the Israelite soldiers defeated them. The Midianites did not dare come to Israel while Gideon still lived.

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What is the best secret to win the battle with only 300 soldiers?

Because Gideon believed and obeyed God.

Gideon believed that everything is up to God.

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People who are obeying God's words like Gideon will see impossible things become possible. Although you may be weak and poor now, if you obey God's words with all your heart, you surely get a victory like that of a miracle.

I hope that all of you who worship today become a faithful person for God.