The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-23

mandcd thee? Re strCnS and Of
y good uragc.-lnShua |: ..
For seven years the MidianijcS
had nightly oppressed Israel In
addition to cXacting tribute, the
predatory tyrantS came and burn
cd up villages. robbed gianamcs.
dcvoured sheep and cattle, de-
stovcd growing crops, and drove
the people into the d"nS and
caves Of the mountains. Deliver
apcc came through Gideon, the
Youngest son Of .loaSh of Ophrah,
a city Of ManaSach. who rccciv-
cd his call while threshing wheat.
His first public act was to destroy
idol worship in his home town.
Then he sounded his trumpet and
sent through ManasSch, Asher,
Xcbulun, and Nanhtali. calling the
patriots to war. Soon $4,000 men
rallied around him.
PERSONNEL REQUIRED IN
GODS PLAN (Judges 7:4)
GIDEON'S ARMY numbered
$4,000 Of the best fighting men
in the country. 1t was more than
three times the size of DCborah,S
army. But il was insignificant in
comparison with the army con-
fronting it. for the invaders were
like locuSts for multitude and
their camclS like the sand Of the
ScaShorr for number. Yet Gideon
was undauntcd. He and his men
rose early and Cncampcd by the
spring of Harod. Just over ;hc
hill north Of them were stationed
the OutpoStS of the Midianitc and
Amalckitc armies, cncampcd in a
valley opening down into the
Plain of ESdraclon.
PREPARATION MADE FOR
GODS PLAN Judges 7:5-O
GIDEON'S BAND was chosen
at Jchovah'S command from the
assembled patriots by two simple
but severe tests. The reason hack
Of the rejection of the army lay
in the fact that God must have
all the glory of the victory. Hence
the first test, which was the test
of courage: Let the fearful and
trembling return from the battle
front, to their diScrcdit $4,000
men turned back. Did Gideon
trcmblc when he saw his army
melt away? Nevertheless, he APP
piled to the 10000 the second
test, which WAS the test Of vigil
ancc: Take the men to the spring
and let them drink: put in one
company all who )ciSurcly and
without sense Of danger take the
time to get down on their knees
to drink: put in another company
all who i'm their alcrtnCSS OF mind
and movement carry the water in
their hands to their mouths and
quickly pass on. NanifcStly the
latter were the men Of martial
quality and calibcr. There were
only three hundred in this group.
They must be the shock troops;
the others have a place. but must
90 back to the reserves and bidC
their time.
PROGRAM GIVEN OF
GODS PLAN Judges 7:15-lS)
GIDEONS STRATEGY exact
ly fits the critical situation he was
in. Descending in the dark to the
edge of the hostile camp and re-
assured by the dream which he
overheard one Midianitc soldier
tell another. Gideon climbed back
up the hill and prepared for his
weird midnight attack. He placed
in the hands of every one of his
men, not Il sword or other armor,
for they seem to have been to-
tally unarmcd, but a trumpet, an
empty pitcher, and Il torch with
in the pitcher. He divided the
three hundred into three compan-
les and stationed them around
the sleeping host, probably al the
head of the valley and on the two
ridges enclosing it right and left
When all We're ready, Gideon
sounded the signal Then the
pitchers were broken and the
flaming torches held aloft in the
midnight air and gloom. At the
same time there was Il mighty
blast of trumpctS from every side.
And quickly followed the piercing
battle cry, THE sword Of the
Lord. and of Gideonr'
PROGRESS ACHIEVED BY
GODS PLAN (Judgcs 1929
GlDEON'S SUCCESS was in
slant and complete. The glare of
the torches. the sound of the
trumpetS. the din. of the Hebrew
battlecry had the desired effect.
The hosts of INDIAN, reused from
their slumbcr, was seized with the
greatest CONSERVATION. I'm Shivcr-
ing fright they turned upon each
other with great slaughter. In the
widest confusion and disorder
they fled toward their native land.
The soldiers Of Israel pursued, the
Jordan fords were guarded, and
the enemy decisivcly defeated
with the loss of two kings, two
princes, and 100000 soldiers. be-
sides immense spoil. Thus Gideon
crushed INDIAN.
FOLLOW GODS PLAN
Cd Follow Gods Plan Rightc-
ously. THE host Of the INDIAN
ties were on the north side of
them" (vcrSe II. Tyrants must
be repealed. OpprcssorS must be
overthrow. To cover before