GREAT VICTORY: GIDEON’S TRIUMPH

Week 3: VICTORY IS CERTAIN

During this study, we will be doing a ‘deep dive’ into a scriptural passage. It is strongly encouraged that you study the passage and entire chapter ahead of the study. Also be prepared with your research tools, for example Google or your study Bible, as you will need to reference it during the study. Spend time answering and discussing each question with the intention to gain sufficient understanding to help your own private Bible study as you further explore these topics.

Study Chapters: Judges 6-8, Romans 12:1-3, 1 Jn 5, Eph 2:6-8, 2 Cor 4:1-7

Pilot text

Judges 7:15-21 15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!’ ”
19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” 21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.

Considering the pilot text and the reading for previous weeks, what can we learn from Gideon’s triumph over the Midianites?

Discussion Points

1. There must be no room for idols in our hearts if we are to truly experience great victory, God’s way. The old testament is a shadow of new testament realities in Christ. The first thing that Gideon had to do, once he encountered God, was to destroy the altar of Baal. But the instruction didn’t stop there. He had to take the wood with which the idol was built and use it to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God. Under the new covenant, we know that idols only truly exist in the heart. An idol demands worship and, until that idol is dethroned, destroyed and brought under the obedience of Christ, there will be no place for God in the heart. (Rom 12:1, 1 John 5:21).
2. God calls us to inherit a victory already won by Himself. Gideon’s story is not a narrative of how one man saved the day with his great skill or a mighty army. The other judges before Gideon had certain things going for them – fearsome exploits in battle, specific skillsets, or even a mighty army. But in Gideon, we see someone whose most prominent attribute (at least in his own mind) was his weakness. When Gideon eventually reached the enemy camp with his small army, he found that the battle was already won in the hearts and minds of the Midianites. Thus, we start to see shadows of the new testament in which God Himself delivered our total salvation package, something that no man ever could. And in completing that work, He has seated with Himself in heavenly places from where we can inherit a victory that has already been won in Christ. Through Gideon’s story we begin to understand that we can believe for victory; not just because of what we can do, but because of what Christ has already done (Eph 2:6-8).
3. God will use earthen vessels that are broken in order to display the light of His victory to the world. At the point of stepping into the victory, we see Gideon begin to foreshadow what God has done in us, the New Testament saints. Under divine instruction, the men hid their lights within earthen vessels. 2 Cor 4:7 (NLT) says “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves”. What light is this referring to? Verse 6 (of 2 Cor 4) tells us: “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” As we walk in the victory that God was delivered to us, we must remember that the vessels we are working with (ours and those around us) are but clay jars. These jars may be imperfect, may even be broken; but within them lies a glorious victory waiting to be revealed.

Closing thoughts: It is easy to read the story of Gideon as that of a victory against the odds, in which this ragtag group of a few soldiers somehow managed to defeat a much superior army. It can be inspiring in that sense – nothing is impossible, and there is no limit to what can be achieved if only we believe.
But this is not really the case, if you examine that story closely. Right from the outset, God had made it clear that Gideon was going to be victorious. In fact, if you read the first exchange (Judges 6:14-16) and skip to the battle scenes (Judges 7:23-24), you would not imagine that Gideon was the underdog. So, what then was this story about?
The real battle that was not with the Midianites, but in Gideon’s mind as he wrestled with his own identity. This story was not of a war against Midian, but of an intense struggle against three idols in Gideon’s life. The first idol was his own ego (“I” have to do it by my own strength, and I’m not good enough); second, idolatry in his father’s house (strongholds in mindsets and values that replaced God); and third, tradition (the way things are usually done – represented by the army he raised). In this passage we see Gideon triumph over Midian to deliver victory to Israel. However, unfortunately, Gideon didn’t fully win his own battle with his idols – these all later resurfaced (Judges 8) and set the nation back on the path to destruction.
As we walk into great victory, our battle is not against the ‘enemies’ or obstacles we may face. Through Christ, we already have the victory, and God has perfected all that which concerns us. Our battle is to dethrone the idols that would derail us – whether they be our ego, mindsets and values, or our traditions.

2 Cor 10:4-6 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Application Questions (use scriptures to support your position):

1. “When we persevere with much fasting and prayer, we can move God to fight on our behalf” Agree / disagree with reasons.
2. “Our greatest victory in spiritual warfare can often be achieved simply by preaching the gospel of Christ”. Agree / disagree with reasons.