It's time for another lesson in our study of how to unlock the power of your thinking. This is the eleventh entry in this series and in case you missed any of the previous Memos, they are available here. This week, let's continue our study of Gideon and look at the fulfillment of God's promise and declaration that Gideon would lead a victory for God's people over the Midianites, a role and promise Gideon was slow to accept.
HAVE COURAGE OR GO HOME
As you know by now, recognizing and addressing fear plays an important role if you are going to unlock the power of your thinking. Your brain, or at least your thinking, is marinated in fear and it requires a lifetime to address and unlearn the fear patterns you have both inherited and learned. We have seen this truth in Gideon's life the last few weeks, but now, let's examine the role fear played in the eventual victory Gideon experienced. First we read how the Lord whittled Gideon's army down from 32,000 to 300. It started with a call for volunteers: "Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained" (Judges 7:3).
The next step in reducing the army was only using those who "lapped their water as a dog lapped." I will not discuss the selection process here, except to say it appears that those who knelt were carelessly exposing themselves to an attack while those who cupped the water with their hands were more alert and ready for the unexpected. After this, the Lord had His army of 300 that would face the Midianite army many times its size. What was the Lord thinking? Why would He do this? We saw last week He did this so Israel would not boast after the victory that their large army got the job done. They would celebrate their victory because God, and God alone, had accomplished it. Still, what was the Lord's lesson from this tactic and strategy?
Quite simply, the Lord knew the MIdianites were afraid. Even though they had a large army that had exercised power and control over Israel for years, they lived in terror. What were they afraid of? They were afraid of the usual things like starvation, losing their power over Israel, and death. The Lord used their fear to Israel's advantage by directing Gideon to do this:
Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon'" (Judges 7:16-18).
THE FEAR FACTOR
What was the result of this strategy? "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 7:22). All it took for the Midianites to panic was the thought they were under attack. When they heard the sound and saw the torches, their worst fears were confirmed and they actually began killing one another.
It occurred to me this week that the devil has one tactic, and that tactic is fear. Why is that? It is because he lives in constant fear. It is what motivates him so therefore he uses fear because he knows it so well. Consider these encounters Jesus had with demons that revealed their terror: "In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 'Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!'" (Luke 4:33-34). Then again in Luke 8:38, "When he [the demon or legion of demons] saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, 'What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!'”
The way for Gideon to defeat his enemies was to be set free from his own fear and to take advantage of his enemy's fear. The same is true for you. First John 4:18 tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." As you grow in God's love and are free from fear, you are equipped to overcome the enemies of God who oppress His creation. If you are fearful, it is not a lack of courage, it is a deficiency of love. Build yourself up in the love of God and fear cannot remain.
What are you operating in, fear or love? Where are you living a bold, fearless life? Where are you not living that kind of life? God knows how to set you free and to use your freedom to extend His kingdom where He sends you. I urge you this week to realize that fear is a tactic of the enemy from which God wants to set you free and then use your freedom to free others who are under the same bondage you once were in. Have a blessed week.
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