Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-17
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.


many or by few.-I Samuel, 14.6.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
Peace for forty years followed the
Barak. 1t resulted in a period of
prosperity and power that endangered
the spiritual life of the nation. The
blessings won on battlefields became
source of national danger. The
people forgot God. so Israel did that
which was evil in the sight of Jeho-
vah' Their indulgences in idolatry
and neglect Of Gods service brought
upon them punishment. The INDIAN
ties. who were wild Bedouin tribes
that Israel had easily mastered during
their journey through the wilderness.
now annually swept across the land.
destroying the growing crops and
carrying away the accumulated re-
sources of the nations labor.
Destitution and danger brought the
nation back to Jehovah After seven
annual visitations by the robber bands
of the desert they were brought to
repentance through their privations
and peril. so that they sought protec-
ton from the Lord. He revealed His
| love LOT them ny SuHnInOhlHS
the noblest of all the judges. to be
the deliverer of Israel. The men
whom God calls to service hesitate
before answering the summons. so
that they can be certain of their call.
The cautious man is apt to underestt-
mate his power. Gideon had demon
strated his qualifications when he
was summoned to become the field
marshal of Israel. The humble. de-
vout patriot questioned his own MT
ness, but when Jehovah made clear to
Gideon that He was with him and Of
fered the privilege OF serving Doth
Jehovah and his countrymen. then
Gideon responded willingly to the
divine call. His first task demanded
courage. None but a brave man
would have dared to destroy the idol
airy of his family and neighbors that
night.
Gideon for his next service. Before
engaging in the task of crushing the
Midianites the cautious. capable and
courageous Gideon. who had won the
name of Jerubbaal, as DESTROYER OF
the old affairs of Baal. sought evil
dence that Jehovah had called him to
take up the battle for freedom and
faith. He withdrew to the threshing
floor, where God had first appeared TO
him and made known His commands.
Here his prayers were answered py
bolized the Holy Spirit. Ewald has
pointed out that Gideon's character
was we'll indicated by the sign or the
feece-cool in the heat of all around,
dry when all around were damped by
fear.
him to lead. Gideon summons with tne
well known horn his own clan OF
Abiezer; then his own tribe of Manas-
sch, and then the three northern
tribes that by their faith contained
the spirit of independence that would
cause them to rally to the call 10
arms. Probably never In all history
was such an army called into the neld
and prepared for war. as the Dand OF
men. who followed Gideon to victory
Only thirty-two thousand volunteers
responded at the mobilization camp
A small number to enter the battle
against the $4,000 Midianites that
filled the plain of Esdraelon. and the
valley of Jezreel. They could have
accomplished nothing against the
vast and more thoroughly organized
army. except for the presence and
power of Jehovah. He required that
the number should be reduced so that
| 10000. who were cowardly and rash.
returned home. Gideon. with a small
band. full of faith and self-restraint,
| who would obey orders was to win,
but the people. could easily recog-
nize that God, alone, had won the vic
tory. When the armistice was signed
there was a general recognition that
God had given victory to the al
lies. but in their disputes as to who
| won the war and desire each 70 nave
his own program carried out they
have forgotten Gods part and are In
danger of losing much that they
gained.
When Gideon. in obedience to Gods
| commands. had secured an army,
Sfro fa1 hair fo
! and fitness by the way they Tapped
up the water, the number was re-
duced from $4,000 to 900. He was
| then ready for battle. He had dis
missed the towards who lacked faith.
He ordered the 800 who had proven
| their faith and courage to be held
! in reserve to await the issue OF the
! first clash between the armies that
| were awaiting to commence battle.
| Before deciding definitely upon the
| order of battle. Gideon made recon-
| noitering expedition within the lines
! of the enemy to understand their po-
! sition.
| He was accompanied on his spying
expedition by a trusted servant They
| had not advanced far between the
lines of the enemies tents ana cameis
before they heard the story Of a
| strange dream that was disturbing
| the Midianites because its interpre-
! tation pointed to the overthrow OF
i their forces by Gideon. The dream
and Interpretation revealed to Gideon
| that it was the time to order battle.
If he surprised the enemy at once the
shirt of Jehovah would use the fear
Of defeat caused by the dream to give
| victory to Israel
! Gideon equipped ris army of 800,
| chosen for their courage and charac-
ter with torches. pitchers and trum-
nets He arranged them about the
sleeping army of the enemy. The ring
| that he silently had drawn around
the camp Of the Midianites was in
visible in the darkness OF the night.
The pitcher concealed the lighted
rome Of the torches that would burn
brightly when the pitchers would be
smashed upon the ground. At given
sienai the trumpets were blown, the
Si7chars were smashed and the torch
90 Jared up. filling the Midianites
Nth great fear. The result of the
F., strategy was what Gideon had ex-
nected. The terror of the Midianites
iuas revealed by their distressing
cries "The sword of Jehovah and OF
Gideon," They overestimated the
strength of the band because 1t was
the Custom of captains to carry
torches, Aroused from their sleep they
were thrown into a panic by the bat
tie crv of Israel, and soon commenced