Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Devotional: January 14th

Judges 7:9-25

Here is one last encouragement for Gideon: the Midianite’s dream which is explained by his companion. There is one last lesson to be learned at the same time: that his valour is no better than one poor cake of barley bread. Then the battle can begin. During the night, the three companies of men place themselves carefully all around the camp of the enemy. We should note what these strange soldiers’ weapons are: a torch burning inside a pitcher. In the other hand they have a trumpet like they did at Jericho. They have neither sword nor spear because it is the LORD’s battle. "That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" as 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 explains. The same verse compares believers to earthen vessels whose wills must be broken so that the wonderful treasure (Christ in them) may shine out to others.

When the loud bugles sound in the middle of the night and the lights flash on the slopes of the mountain, the whole camp wakes up terrified. They panic, start killing each other and run away wherever they can. Then the pursuit begins with other Israelites joining the three hundred soldiers.

Israel’s history records this glorious event (Psalms 83:11). Oreb’ s rock and Zeeb’s winepress will remind future generations of the LORD’s deliverance.