The Midnight concept ,#5 Gideon-a mighty warrior, a judge,

1. The Midnight concept ,#5 Gideon-a mighty warrior, a judge, YOSHINOBU NAMIHIRA MD ,FACG 3000 HALLS FERRY ROAD VICKSBURG , MS 39180 PH 601-638-9800,FAX 601-638-9808 E MAIL: NAMIHIRA @VICKSBURG.COM

2. Gideon (1) ;Judges 6:1-8:35 • The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the God • Consequence of disobedience= delivered to the hand of the Midian for 7 years • The Midianites= stronger position;prevailed against israelites, destroyed the produce of the field at the time of harvest, • The Israelites= weaker position ;hiding in the caves, dens, the stronghold in the mountains

8. Gideon (2) • The Israelites= greatly impoverished , persecuted, oppressed , depressed, not doing too well, : cried out to the Lord for help ! • The Lord’s words of complaints or self reflection on the part of the Israelites

9. The past history-review of Israel • The lord brought you out of Egypt (+) • Brought you out of the house of bondage(+) • Delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians(+) • Delivered you out of the hand of all who oppressed you(+) • Drove them (the enemies) out before you(+) • Gave you their land to you. (+)

11. God’s speaking to you • I am the Lord , your God • Do not fear the gods of Amorites, in whose land you dwell • You have not obeyed My voice

12. The Angel of the Lord= sat under the terebinth tree ,which was in Ophrah which belonged to Joash • Ophrah= • Joash = • Gideon =threshing wheat in the winepress • working hard , be busy at work,doing something , not lazy, not idle ! • Reason=hide the wheat from the eyes of the midianites

13. The word from the angel of the lord= • “the lord is with you “ • You , mighty man of valor” • Gideon =really mighty man of valor, military strength , war experiences , good past record of military success at that time ? • Answer= no !

14. Gideon’s comments • If the lord is with us, why has all this (poor and wretched, sad condition ) happened to us ? • Where are all the miracles which our fathers told us about ? • Miracles= (1) Exodus from Egypt; (2) the red sea parting and crossing ;(3) manna in the desert ; (4) the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud ;(5) water out of the rock in the desert

16. The lord has forsaken us and delivered us to the hands of the Midianites • Gideon’s comments= complaint, questioning, murmuring,

17. The lord speaking to Gideon • The lord’s comments= • “go in this might of yours • You shall save Israel from the hands of Midianites • Have I not sent you ? “

18. Gideon go in this might of yours You shall save Israel from the hands of Midianites Have I not sent you ? “ Judges6:12-14 Moses God sent Moses to king Pharaoh The ten plagues in the Egypt Miracles= the red sea parting and crossing Main agenda= save Israelites and take to the promised land ( Canaan ) Exodus 9---18

19. Gideon go in this might of yours You shall save Israel from the hands of Midianites Have I not sent you ? “ Isaiah God sent Isaiah as a prophet Main agenda= save Israelites from destruction God’s agenda= saving business (+) , not destruction business (-) Isaiah 1:16-18

20. Gideon go in this might of yours You shall save Israel from the hands of Midianites Have I not sent you ?“ I will be with you You shall defeat the Midianites as one man Judges 6:16 Jesus God sent his only son from heaven to the earth The main mission =save people on the earth from the Satan’s deception , lying about God’s integrity , character One man’s rescue mission for the whole mankind ! John 1:29; 3:16

21. Gideon’s qualification: • Manasseh • The Weakest clan • The least in the father’s house

22. Gideon’s qualification: Manasseh The Weakest clan The least in the father’s house King David Working hard Busy at work for routine job Taking care of sheep Not the strongest, not the biggest, not the smartest Not on the front page of the newspaper 1Samuel 16:7-13

23. Gideon’s qualification: Manasseh The Weakest clan The least in the father’s house King Saul The least and the weakest , not the tallest , not the first candidate at the first glance. The humble being in the beginning—God’s employment ,hiring criteria The proud, the stubborn, unusable at the end No signs of repentance, no recognition of wrong doing, incorrect course of action 1 Samuel 11:24

24. Gideon Prepared a young gout Unleavened bread on the rock Meat in the basket on the rock The broth in the pot—poured out the ground Fire=God’s approval, Ok’s sign, Jesus Bread Wine Jesus' blood poured out to the ground

25. Gideon is type of Jesus Christ .

26. Gideon’s two requests Fleece experiment Dew ( water ) inside Dew (water ) outside Confirmation and conviction of the God’s presence , God’s doing in this project Judges 6:36-40

27. Gideon’s response • I have seen the angels of the God face to face • Peace be with you; do not fear, you will not die ! • Gideon thought that he would die, no body is allowed to see God and live in the past. Absolute reverence and respect to God !

28. Gideon built an altar for the Lord • Place=the Lord-shalom • Location=Ophrah of the Abiezrites • Cut down the wooden images of Baal • Tear down the altar of Baal by night ,not by day to avoid public outcry and revolt • Bulls for burn offering

29. The Midianites vs. the Israelites • Gideon and his men = camp at the well of Harod • The Midianiates=camp at the hill of Moreh in the valley

30. The midianites Gideon The battle at the Moreh The hill of maggido Satan and his company God’s people Jesus The final conflict at Amaggedon The final conflict,Amageddon

35. Selection criteria • Gideon’s army • 32,000=the beginning number • 22,000= returned • 10,000=remaining • 300 (final selection ) ! • 300/32,000= 0.9% ,only a small number! • 32,000-300=31,700 (99.06%) sent home, disqualified

36. God’s reason for reducing the numbers • “the people who are with you ( Gideon ) are too many for me ( God ) to give the Midianites into their hands “ • Reason #1=“my own hand has saved me”=dependence on self ,no dependence on God • Reason #2=Israel will claim glory for itself against Me ( God)= exultation of self = pride

37. Important question • What is the driving force underneath you ? • What is the deep seated motivating force? • Pride = very dangerous, extremely destructive ,ultimately suicidal death

38. We made it != recognition of more self and less God’s power and exultation of self . • vs. • God had helped us through this ordeal, crisis or trials, tribulations = recognition of less self and more God’s power and appreciation for what God had done for them.

39. God’s selection criteria • Whoever is fearful and afraid ,let him turn and depart at once from the mount Gilead= fear • Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue as a dog laps , vs. everyone who gets down on his knees to drink=readiness, emergency take off or landing, alertness, vigilance ,watchfulness,

42. The number game • Gideon’s army • 32,000=the beginning number, showed up • 22,000= returned ( test #1=fear) • 10,000=remaining • 9,700=sent home (test #2= readiness, vigilance) • 300 (final selection ) !=the final figure • 300/32,000= 0.9% ,only a small number! • 32,000-300=31,700 (99.06%) sent home, disqualified

44. Take home point • Many are called and many showed up for the battle (32,000) • The great majority are fearful and not ready = sent home (31,700),99.01 % • only small fraction is selected and chosen for the battle. (less than 1% of the whole ,300)

45. Important thing to ponder • At the end time of the earth’s history, very same scenario can happen to us. • Be vigilant and be ready at any time for the battle !

46. Gideon ‘s war tactics • 300 divided into 3 of 100 • Everyone= 1) trumpet,2) pitcher, 3) torch (torch inside the pitcher ) • Instruction of Gideon to his men • “ look at me and do likewise and watch “ • You shall come to the edge of the camp , you shall do just as I do.”=you set a good example, good model , good spirit

47. At midnight • 3 of 100 men came to the outpost of the Midianite camp • They blew the trumpet=sound effect • Broke the pitchers in their hands • Held the torches in their hands=visual effect • Shout ”the sword of the Lord and of Gideon “=sound effect

48. Every man stood in his place all around the camp . • The end result = 1) the whole army ran and cried out and fled, 2) when 300 men blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp = sudden surprise, confusion, chaos, loss of order, massive killing against each other,

49. The army fled to Beth acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath • The men of Israel gathered together from Naphthali,Asher, Mannasseh, and pursued the Midianites. • Gideon sent messengers throughout all the mountains of Ephraim,

50. The men of Ephraim gathered together and seized the watering places as far as Beth Barah and Jordan. • They captured and killed two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb.