Judges 7 & 8: Faint Yet Pursuing
Verse of the Day: (8:4) And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

1. Pitcher (7:1-25)
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. (7:16)

God’s greatest desire is for man who is made in His image to worship Him and acknowledge Him, that without Him, man is nothing. This was why God chose Gideon, an unknown man, to lead Israel against their enemies. God commanded Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 men, and to use pitchers, lamps and trumpets, instead of shields, swords and spears, to fight against the Midianites. God wanted them to know that it was never about them or their instruments, but Him who shall defeat their enemies. Gideon chose 300 men who were not just courageous, but vigilant, as they drank water by putting their hands to their mouths looking around for their enemies, instead of the rest who bowed down to drink. Indeed, we must be courageous and vigilant, as we wrestle not just against our flesh and enemies, but against the dark forces of the devil. (1 Peter 5:8-11)
    
2. Pursuing (8:1-21)
And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. (8:5)

Let us not only start well in our Christian race, be it a sprint (some like my beloved son only lived for 16 years) or a marathon, but persevere and finish well, even when there are many challenges along the track. Though Gideon and the 300 men were fainting, yet they kept pursing after the two kings of Midian to eliminate them, otherwise there shall be no peace in Israel. Finally, God gave them the victory as they managed to destroy them. Let us therefore not only start well, but finish well our race with patience and perseverance, and always looking to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)  

3. Prey (8:22-35)
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (8:24)

Though Gideon was a man of God yet in his last days he led Israel to sin against God when he made an ephod of gold from all the spoils of their enemies. Israel began worshipping the golden ephod which they could see with their eyes, instead of by faith worshipping the invisible and true God who loved and delivered them from their enemies. Indeed, let us worship the true God, who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21-24)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to start and finish well my Christian race with You.