Judges 8:4-9
4 Then Gideon and the three hundred men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, exhausted yet still pursuing.
5 And he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 But the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
7 So Gideon said, “For this answer, when the Lord has handed over to me Zebah and Zalmunna, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”
8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.
9 So he said also to the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower.”
Gideon’s Pursuit
At Succoth
Those who are called to God’s work may sometimes find themselves in a solitary battle. They may face situations where they are not understood and denied any assistance. It is in such times that they must stand firm on God’s promises and continue the fight. Are you experiencing a solitary battle? Let us learn from Gideon’s experience. In today’s passage, the battle unfolds east of the Jordan River. (1) Gideon crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men and came to Succoth to capture the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. (2) Succoth was a city allotted to the tribe of Gad, which means it belonged to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. (3) Gideon asked the people of Succoth for some bread. He was not seeking their participation in the battle, but merely asking for a modest provision of food for his weary soldiers. (4) However, the people of Succoth refused his request. It becomes evident that there already was a division between the tribes east and west of the Jordan River. (5) They declined because they thought Gideon’s army had no chance of winning. Perhaps they had witnessed the 15,000 Midianite soldiers passing nearby. 300 men stood no chance. They will face severe consequences if their cooperation with Gideon’s army was discovered. Filled with righteous anger, Gideon declared that when they achieved victory, he would trample them with thorns of the wilderness and with briers. In this statement was Gideon’s faith that he will undoubtedly triumph in the Lord’s battle.
At Penuel
A little north of Succoth is Penuel. There, Gideon made the same request. However, the people of Penuel also insulted Gideon’s small army just like the people of Succoth. In response, Gideon declared that after winning the battle, he will tear down the tower of the city. This tower was a place of refuge during times of war and was a source of pride for the people of Penuel. When you feel abandoned by others, it is an opportunity to trust in God. Gideon remained steadfast in God’s promises and achieved victory. What we need today, is a faith like Gideon’s.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, help me stop relying on people and fix my eyes only on You. I believe in the promise of victory. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.