The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-07-28
GIDEON'S FAITHFUL FEW

LESSON TExT-Judges TAT. 1921.
| GOLDEN TExT-There Is no restraint 70
the Lord to save by many or by few
I Samuel 1879.
Man power is said to be the secret
of victory. Our nation is concerned
about the shortage of man power In
critical manufacturing centers. The
armed forces are calling for more
and more men and women.
That will all make it little
strange to study and teach the les
son for today, for here is the story
of a crucial military campaign IN
which the leader, Gideon, was told
by God to cut down his forces. This
happened again and again, until he
had less than one per cent or MS
original force, which was none too
large, humanity speaking.
What singular thing was going on?
God was at work and He did not
want Israel to look to the arm OF
flesh, but to Him.
Three questions are raised and
answered in this interesting story:
1. Quantity or Quality? T:4D.
The Lord is looking for men to do
His work, but He cannot use men
who are afraid or careless. This
was the lesson Gideon learned, and
it applies to our day as well.
When Gideon started out he had
$4,000 men (Judg: 7:3). Not willing
that they should glory in their own
strength and knowing that many OF
them were towards at heart, the
Lord told Gideon, to let those who
were afraid, 60 home. When the
mob had left there were only 10000
left.
How sad it is that so many are
''fearful and afraid" ". 81 when it
comes to going into battle for the
Lord. They sing cheerily, "Stand
UP, stand up for Jesus, We soldiers
Of the cross; let courage rise with
danger" etc.; but when the bombs
of Satan begin to fall, or the bugle
calls for an advance into the
enemy's territory, they have dis
appeared to places Of comfort and
safety. What good are such sol
diers? The Lord told Gideon to send
them home; perhaps the church
should do the same.
Then came the second test which
appears in our lesson. Those who
took the comfortable and easy way
| to drink ". O., were not alert and
ready. Down went the number to
800; but these were men who were
ready to obey, who were alert and
courageous.
The church needs to learn that
large numbers are not the answer
to- her problems. God is interested
in numbers, be sure Of that. but He
is more concerned about quality
than quantity. Letfus get more peo-
pie who are truly regenerated into
the church, and not just more peo-
pie.
IL. Mans Power or Gods Power?
wv. 1919.
Strange as was. the plan for re-
cruiting, the plan of battle was even
more unusual. Lights, broken pitch
ers, and trumpet' blasts are hardly
the accepted weapons of warfare
NOR does the method sound like mill
tary strategy.
This was, no time for questions,
for logical arguments, for the usual
organization Of war, for now God
was about to work. He was ready to
show His power quite apart from
the ability of man, and He had a
right to work as He would.
Wise and blessed is the church
which knows that there comes
time when the thing TO do is to put
plans aside and let the Lord work.
No one will question the value OF
organization and proper church
machinery" but we need to ask
ourselves whether we have not be-
come so organized that we impede
the work of God.
Observe on the other hand that II
was "the sword Of the Lord and Of
Gideon''-not just the sword OF the
Lord. God is all-powerful. We must
not hinder His glorious working. But
He works through men, do not forget
thatl He used Gideon, and He used
Gideon's little band.
Gods power must accomplish
Gods work, but that power flows
; out to the world through yielded and
obedient men.
III. Running or Standing? wv. 10
21).
The enemy iran and cried anc
fed" The sword of the Lord and o.
Gideon had put them to rout. Wei
may the enemies Of God be terror
stricken when He begins to worl
through His servants.
All this was done ''by faith" fol
we find Gideon's act of turning 1T
fight the armies of the aliens" list
: ed among the exploits of faith (Heb
11:34).
Now, see what Gideon's host wa,
: doing while the enemy ran ". 2l)
: "They stood every man in hi
: place." No need for frantic hurr!
with them, no fear. no excitement
God works that way. Remembel
the children of Israel at the Rec