This post is Day 21 in a series of studies about “Gideon”, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Gideon – 21

Three hundred men lapped water with their hands to their mouths. All the rest of the men knelt down to drink water. God was determined, and more of the men had to leave the front line. The three separations in this story remind me of much of the church today.

Judges 7:5-6

“Separate those who lap water with their tongues like dogs from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped water with their hands to their mouths. All the rest of the men knelt down to drink water.

The Thought

I am sure Gideon was surprised and maybe a bit nervous too, to see a further reduction in his number of fighting men. But God was determined. More of the men had to leave the front line.

The three separations of the army recorded in this story remind me of much of the church today.

The Fearful.

So many christians do nothing because they are afraid. They fear the enemy or the authorities.

The Uninformed.

So many others are not even aware that we have an enemy. These people are symbolised by those who knelt and put there heads down to the water. Consequently they would not see the approaching enemy and would be vulnerable to attack at that moment.

The Alert.

Only a very small number in Gideon’s army, and in the church today stand and stay alert. We need more people to read and learn 1 Peter 5:8.

Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.

Those men who lapped the water from their hands could look around at the same time. They could see the approaching enemy and would be ready to leap into action. Am I? Are you?

Action

Pray for the church today in all its forms and with all its imperfections. Pray for it to become what the Lord designed it to be. May the fears of Christians disppear. Let our eyes be opened to see the work of the enemy, but also the work of our victorious Lord.

Praise God that He is handpicking His army in these last days. Praise Him that He is building His church.