The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-29


tuiah Gen, xxv:2l. his second WIFE
1ney iniiuDited a country of considerable
extent in The Sinaitic peninsula, TO Wnichs
Moses lied for q pace OF SAFETY. WAefe
he resided until called to lead his peop.e
out OF Egypt. CEN. iii.D Tney seemed
to lave cherished some Ill will towards
the lsraeiites during the wandering. for
what reason is not known, and united
with the Moa bites in trying to inuuce
Blilaana to cu.se the Hebrews. (Nurnb-.
MILO. To revenge their doings on that
occasion the Lord directed Moses to send
a ST. ong military expedition against them.
ard many thousands were siam. lNuHib..
XXxi.7l Those who escaped this @Strut-s
ton aftarwaru greatly increased and TO-.
several years grievousiy oppressed the
Hebrews after heir 4ttiement IN canaan
Residing at the southeast, they frequently
made iucurSionS. disturbing the people
IN their peaceful pursuits. To-day les
sor. shows how they were finally con-
cuered the Lord working ,nlraculous!y
for their destruction.
THE CAA1P-(NeiseD.4 Reference to this
particular invasion is made in the sixth
chatter. In answer to the popular cry.
COO raised 5up. Gideon as a sdeliverer, and
gave him assurances by various sfgns.
(C.l vi:a6-4eJ When all doubts We're re-
moved, Gideon summoned the psopis. Who
aIitched their tents beside tue vel OF
Herot That well is believed TO nave
been the same as fountain no" caied
Ain Jalad, which is nearly opposite. Sta-
rem about a nile east OF esceei q "a m.
Xz>iv:D. near the center. Oh fiis. :s.l1.
l;obinson Identifies the place, saying that
tne water is excellent and abundant. ana
tn,t it flows from a cavern in the rock
which forms the base Of Gitooa@ L his
Strategic point was made the scene Q.
many sanguinarya conflicts in Jewish ana
Grecian history. The Crusaders: ana
Saracens sencamped there. Gideon: army
took up a position in the valley south OF
the Midianites between them and Their
Homes. thus preparing for a desperate
struggle and an utter defeat tor one OF
tho coEnbatants.
THE TIaIID-Gvers 2 and 81. This
Hattie was not to be trial of strength
between. Israel and INDIAN. God Intended
t. overthrow the enemy even as ne nae
done in all conflicts in which his people
had been engaged. He was not willing
that they should become vain glorious.
lei in that case their hearts would be
turned away from him. (Deut-. viii:lO
That they might not be led into such
busting and salf-confidence, he deter
1nired to reduce the number, SO that 1t
should be evident to all that the victory
vas not due to human powers. OF the
thlrty-two thousand IN the army OF 5lsraei
all should be sent home WHO Were tlrnid
Some doubtless considered the multitudas
81 the Midianises and their former
achievements Judges. vi:5l. and tremhted
HltI far whiie Others, experimenting
the Heril Sofs tileirH position. felt that the
enemy. with desperate onslaught. WouId
cperwhelm them in an attempt to pass
through the valley honreward There
fCrs, Gideon was directed TO proclaim
Sin the ears of the people that all who
"a IA ago r.
NAMED ten thousand brave hearted men.
THE TRIAL-fNerses a, 5. g.. These
,serez still! too many for Gods purpose.
Il may be that some who had declared
tteir bravery We're after all Of that kind
" he trust in themselves and think little
of@an overrltiing Providence Zen thou-a
sand men might boast IN the hour or VIC
ttrv ard CAIN themselves to be
heroes The army must be further rs-
duceti until all should know that the.
tattle was won by Divine power q sam.
Siy:6I. and God should have all the
@s,!arv. 4 course of Divine selection was
appointed The people We're ordered 20
pass down BY the spring and God Wouid
designate 10 Gideon the men whom ne
had CHOSEN. The great searcher OF al
hearts might thus secure those Wno
suited his purpose. (Acts. i:2i). a sign
vas agreed upon. known only to God
and sGf1eon-theS men who Tapped IKE
docs in drinking We're to be. taken mat
act was a ht1Sty one, Indicating that the
persons We're not weary or that they
did not take nlucn time to satisfy their
thirst that. in fact, they We're eager 70
engage in the conflict. unwilling TO delay
long for their own comfort. Three run
dred such men were found.
THE ECHOICE-(Eerses Z and 81 The
Lcrfl has discovered his chosen ones
Three hundred men by whom a host IS
- be subdued Three hundred honored
men out5of all who first responded 70 the
Call and rallied about the leader BY
these 4 will save you" said The Al
mighty. Let all the other people co.
That was election. Thousands dismissed.
eathsr8 up their belongings and depart,
the second great body sent away from
Tie. battle fed Well might ii be inquired
Why any were retained. With one blast
the Almighty might have swept Midian
{, destruction. With some sudden burst
Of natural forces these nlultituties. spread
over the plain. might have been annis1i-
10 ted But it pleased God TO join men III
tI,f achievement. Ifs would save by
IS means of men. He would make them
mariners with him. q Cor, iit:N. Three
hundred men shall be the witnesses OF
Divine display Of power. rehearslhs U
tteir fellows what God did BY tneit
lips 1t shall be known in Israel. not ti!s s'
80 49,
Whelneti. but that God interposee. -
behalf OF his people and delivered lhsist
from their foes.
THE PLAN-C-erse 16l- an in .ls.s.7',
ing story, told in verses nine 70 ..,.s.,r
is omitted from our study l.
f.prears that after Gideon had sssIie
his lite band ne went oy Goa p ~
to the SIidianitish camp and "a
one OF the soldiers who told q u Il. an
his fe.low. which was tnterpI esss ., ,,IIr
omen of = victory for lsEasi- rex i
further delay Gideon planned an -. -
the oueerest ever known IN 8 :, - 1S.sr :.
either ancient or modern. . .ss,s
no spea,s or swords or other il.s ,,aa ~
given to the men. such a $ " t7a.saad aaa,
fhe battles of those times
man received a trumpet ana az ~
pitcher in which fire was p a.,..5a, INTO
{ s,sn ~, nsrts ore hundred 70 dlvisson.
n.i,h snmething Of military appeatai as
Miss NJ. after the fashion OF great
Military :, achievements such p.anning IS
a,.a,,s,l 10 provoke a smile In our o.y
= u.oI1ld subject the cotnman eer 60 liui,
eue. indeed. a company Of boys would s..
-. conduct themselves on this wise even
-; ~, .,s.ssrSn,ay. But the plan was a further