Judges 7:13-18: a reflection

13When Gideon had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow. He said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” 14His fellow answered, “This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has delivered Midian into his hand, with all the army.” 15It was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. Then he returned into the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the LORD has delivered the army of Midian into your hand!” 16He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers. 17He said to them, “Watch me, and do likewise. Behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so you shall do. 18When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”

On the eve of battle against a vast enemy, Gideon, still fearful, is sent by God to overhear something in the enemy camp: a man telling his fellow a dream, and the fellow interpreting it as a sign that God had given Midian into Gideon's hand. It was a timely reassurance, given at the moment Gideon needed courage. And his response is telling: When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. The reassurance strengthened his faith, and his first response was worship; then, encouraged, he rose to lead the people into battle.

Notice how God reassured the fearful Gideon at the moment of need, and how Gideon responded. Gideon was afraid, facing an overwhelming enemy; and God, knowing his fear, gave him a timely reassurance, letting him overhear the enemy's own dream and its interpretation. The reassurance came just when Gideon needed courage, strengthening his faith for the task ahead. And Gideon's response was to worship, and then to act; the encouragement moved him first to bow before God, then to rise and lead. God met his fear with a timely word, and the word turned his fear to worship and his worship to action.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can give us timely reassurance in our fear, strengthening our faith for what lies ahead. When we face something that frightens us, God can give a timely word of reassurance, an encouragement that comes just when we need courage, as he let Gideon overhear the dream. And the right response is worship, then action, letting the reassurance move us to bow before God and then to rise for the task. When you are fearful before a hard task, watch for God's timely reassurance, and let it move you to worship and then to act, as Gideon worshiped and rose to lead. Receive God's timely reassurance in your fear as strength for the task ahead, letting it move you to worship and then to action, as Gideon heard the dream, worshiped, and rose to lead Israel; for God can strengthen the fearful with a timely word just when courage is needed, and such reassurance is meant to turn our fear to worship and our worship to faithful action.

Lord, on the eve of battle against a vast enemy, Gideon, still fearful, is sent by you to overhear something in the enemy camp: a man telling his fellow a dream, and the fellow interpreting it as a sign that you had given Midian into Gideon's hand. It was a timely reassurance, given at the moment Gideon needed courage. And his response is telling: when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. The reassurance strengthened his faith, and his first response was worship; then, encouraged, he rose to lead the people. Show me how you reassured the fearful Gideon at the moment of need, and how Gideon responded. Gideon was afraid, facing an overwhelming enemy; and you, knowing his fear, gave him a timely reassurance. The reassurance came just when Gideon needed courage. And Gideon's response was to worship, and then to act; the encouragement moved him first to bow before you, then to rise and lead. Take that to my heart, for you can give me timely reassurance in my fear, strengthening my faith for what lies ahead. When I face something that frightens me, you can give a timely word of reassurance, an encouragement that comes just when I need courage. And the right response is worship, then action. When I am fearful before a hard task, help me watch for your timely reassurance, Lord, and let it move me to worship and then to act, as Gideon worshiped and rose to lead Israel.