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We will recall from the last chapter that the reason why God has given the Israelites to the hands of the Midianites was that they had done evil in the eyes of God
God is willing to deliver them through Gideon and his army, but God would not want the Israelites to boast against him that they (the Israelites) have saved themselves.
So God reduced the number of the Israelites' army from thirty-two thousand to only three hundred. At this point, fear had set in for Gideon.
God asked Gideon to go down against the camp that same night but if he is afraid, he may go down first with his servant to confirm God’s victory against the Midianites
He went with his servant, heard a Midianite dream and the interpretation, and became courageous, bowed down, and worshipped.
Gideon attacked with his army in complete confidence in God’s promise and the Midianites fled before him
The second lesson shares the exhortation of Paul in his pastoral letter to his spiritual son Timothy. Paul asked Timothy to throw himself into the work of Christ
Timothy should pass on the teachings received from Paul to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others
He should be like a diligent farmer, a command-yielding soldier, and a disciplined athlete so that he can bear more fruit for God
Timothy should be focused on the message of truth that Jesus who descended from the line of David was raised from the dead.
Though Paul had been imprisoned for preaching this message, he continued to urge Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ.
For Paul, he had patiently accepted all the troubles, as to help the people God has chosen so that they can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.
Friends, just as Gideon gave up the strength of his army, as Paul was jailed, and Timothy threw himself in for God’s service, so you also must give in for God’s service