August 20th, 2026
by Pastor Michael Goins
by Pastor Michael Goins
Obedient
Scripture: Judges 7:9-22
Devotional:
Before the battle even begins, God gives Gideon one more gift, not a bigger army, but a smaller fear. "If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp... and you will be encouraged" (v. 10-11). Gideon sneaks down that night and overhears a Midianite soldier describing a dream: a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp and flattening a tent. His companion interprets it instantly, "This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon" (v. 14). Gideon worships on the spot, then returns to his three hundred and says, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands" (v. 15).
What follows is one of the strangest battle plans in all of Scripture. No swords drawn. Each man is given a trumpet, an empty jar, and a torch hidden inside the jar. Gideon divides them into three companies and surrounds the enemy camp in the dead of night. His instructions are almost absurdly simple: "Watch me... do exactly as I do" (v. 17). When Gideon blows his trumpet, they all blow theirs, smash their jars to reveal the torches, and shout, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (v. 18, 20).
None of the three hundred understood the strategy. There wasn't one to understand, not in any military sense. Breaking clay jars in the dark, waving torches, shouting into the night around a camp of thousands who outnumbered them beyond counting, this only makes sense as obedience. And it was enough. Thrown into confusion, the Midianites turned on each other and fled (v. 21-22). Three hundred men, and not a single sword swung by Israel's hand.
That's the shape obedience takes for a warrior: you don't need the whole strategy laid out before you move. You need to recognize whose voice is giving the instruction, and then act the instant the trumpet sounds, even when the instructions sound like nonsense, even when your part looks small next to the size of the enemy. Gideon's three hundred didn't win the battle. Their obedience simply positioned them to watch God win it.
Reflection: Is there an instruction from God sitting in front of you right now that doesn't make strategic sense, something that looks more like breaking a jar than swinging a sword?
What would full, immediate obedience look like, even without seeing how it wins the battle?
Scripture: Judges 7:9-22
Devotional:
Before the battle even begins, God gives Gideon one more gift, not a bigger army, but a smaller fear. "If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp... and you will be encouraged" (v. 10-11). Gideon sneaks down that night and overhears a Midianite soldier describing a dream: a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp and flattening a tent. His companion interprets it instantly, "This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon" (v. 14). Gideon worships on the spot, then returns to his three hundred and says, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands" (v. 15).
What follows is one of the strangest battle plans in all of Scripture. No swords drawn. Each man is given a trumpet, an empty jar, and a torch hidden inside the jar. Gideon divides them into three companies and surrounds the enemy camp in the dead of night. His instructions are almost absurdly simple: "Watch me... do exactly as I do" (v. 17). When Gideon blows his trumpet, they all blow theirs, smash their jars to reveal the torches, and shout, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (v. 18, 20).
None of the three hundred understood the strategy. There wasn't one to understand, not in any military sense. Breaking clay jars in the dark, waving torches, shouting into the night around a camp of thousands who outnumbered them beyond counting, this only makes sense as obedience. And it was enough. Thrown into confusion, the Midianites turned on each other and fled (v. 21-22). Three hundred men, and not a single sword swung by Israel's hand.
That's the shape obedience takes for a warrior: you don't need the whole strategy laid out before you move. You need to recognize whose voice is giving the instruction, and then act the instant the trumpet sounds, even when the instructions sound like nonsense, even when your part looks small next to the size of the enemy. Gideon's three hundred didn't win the battle. Their obedience simply positioned them to watch God win it.
Reflection: Is there an instruction from God sitting in front of you right now that doesn't make strategic sense, something that looks more like breaking a jar than swinging a sword?
What would full, immediate obedience look like, even without seeing how it wins the battle?
Posted in Arrows
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
Life Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk Devotional CopyLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife Talk DevotionalLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkLife TalkThe Shepherd's HeartHoly WeekHoly Week
April
May
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments