The Story of Gideon and His Army of 300 Men

Gideon was an Israelite farmer chosen by God to deliver the people from the oppression of the Midianites. Although he felt incapable, God led him to victory with an army of only 300 men, demonstrating that the power of God equips the chosen ones. From his story, we learn about faith, courage, and trust in God during difficult times.

At that time, the Israelites had turned away from God, which led them to a period of oppression under the rule of pagan nations. The Midianites were a constant threat, as they plundered and destroyed the crops. For this reason, the people of Israel lived in fear and extreme poverty.

Gideon was the son of Joash, from the tribe of Manasseh. He worked in hiding on his farm to protect what little remained from the Midianite attacks. It was in this context that the angel of the Lord appeared to him and called him to lead the liberation of Israel. The angel called him a “mighty man of valor,” but Gideon considered himself the least in his family and questioned God’s choice. Therefore, he asked for two signs to confirm his mission.

In the first sign, the dew appeared only on the fleece, while the ground around it remained dry. In the second sign, the opposite occurred: the fleece was dry and the ground was wet. These signs revealed God’s answer and strengthened Gideon. With God’s confirmation, Gideon gathered an army, but God reduced the number of his men from 32,000 to just 300, so that the victory would not be attributed to the men, but to the power of God. With strategy and faith, Gideon defeated the Midianites, restoring peace in Israel.

Gideon was given the name Jerubbaal after defeating Baal, the god of the Midianites. The name was given as a symbol of his victory over idolatry and the worship of false gods. After the victory, Gideon made a mistake by creating an ephod with the gold collected from the battle. Although his intentions were good, the ephod ended up becoming an object of worship, leading the people of Israel away from true worship of God. This mistake of Gideon highlights the importance of keeping faith pure and avoiding the creation of idols.

The story of Gideon teaches us that God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. His humility and faith in the face of seemingly impossible challenges demonstrate that success, according to the biblical view, does not depend on our abilities, but on trust in God. Gideon is an example that, even in difficult times, obedience and faith in God can bring deliverance and transformation.

The Background of the Story

We find the story of Gideon in the Old Testament, in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 through 8.

The situation of the people of Israel was desperate. Due to their constant disobedience, God had delivered them into the hands of the Midianites, a very cruel people. The Midianites were tyrants who constantly stole, ruined the crops, and killed the animals of the Israelites. Judges 6:6 says the following:

Gideon’s Calling

God sent a prophet to remind Israel of the reason why they were suffering this misery: their own disobedience.

The angel of the Lord also went to speak with Gideon. He found him threshing wheat in the winepress, hiding it from the Midianites to prevent them from stealing it. Even in the midst of Gideon’s fearful attitude, the angel greeted him by calling him a "mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12), reminding him that the Lord was with him.

Gideon began to complain about the situation they were living in, but the angel of the Lord responded:

Instead of feeling encouraged and strengthened, Gideon began to make excuses and give all the reasons why he was not the right person for the task. To be sure that the message was from the Lord, Gideon asked for a sign. He prepared an offering of a young goat and unleavened bread and presented it to the angel.

The angel touched the rock where Gideon had placed his offering with his staff, and fire came out of the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. Gideon was frightened, but the angel assured him that he would not die.

That night, the Lord commanded Gideon to destroy the images of false gods and an altar that his father had dedicated to Baal. In its place, he was to build an altar to the LORD. Gideon asked 10 of his servants to accompany him and went at night to destroy the altar and build another, just as the angel of the Lord had told him. Gideon went at night because he was afraid of the men who lived in the city, but he still carried out the task he had been given.

In the morning, the people of the town found out that it had been Gideon who had destroyed the altar. They went to his father Joash's house, demanding that he hand over Gideon to be killed. Joash spoke very cleverly, saying that if Baal was truly a god, he could defend himself. From that day on, the people of the town began to call Gideon Jerubbaal, which means "let Baal contend or defend himself."

Gideon Asks for Two Signs

Several eastern tribes joined the Midianites to attack Israel. The Spirit of the Lord filled Gideon, and he summoned the people of Abiezer, the clan to which he belonged, to confront the enemies. Men from other Israelite tribes also joined him, so Gideon had a strong army to fight. Still, he asked God for two signs to be sure that God would save Israel through him.

First, he placed a fleece (wool from a ram or sheep) on the ground and asked that the dew of the night fall only on the fleece, while the ground around it remained dry. This happened.

For further assurance, the next day, Gideon asked God that during that night, the ground would be covered with dew, but the fleece would remain dry. And so it was. Gideon was certain that God would be with them in battle and would grant them victory.

The Selection of the Army of 300 Men

Gideon’s army initially had 32,000 men, but God said that was too many. Although the Midianites and their allies were "as numerous as locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore" (Judges 7:12), God did not want Israel to boast of their own strength (Judges 7:2). He told Gideon to reduce the number of men in his army. The glory would be for God alone when victory was achieved.

First, God told Gideon to let go of those who were afraid. 22,000 men decided to leave, leaving only 10,000. Still, the army was too large, and God gave Gideon a method to determine which men should stay and which should go.

They were to go drink water. Gideon would separate those who lapped water with their tongues from those who cupped water in their hands and brought it to their mouths. The ones who cupped the water in their hands were 300 men, and these were the ones chosen by the Lord to accompany Gideon in battle.

The Victory

Gideon still had doubts and fears. The Lord told him to go down to the Midianite camp where he would hear something that would give him courage. Gideon went with his servant and heard a man tell his friend about a dream. In the dream, he had seen a barley loaf rolling with great force into the Midianite camp, knocking over a tent (Judges 7:13).

Upon hearing this, Gideon bowed down in worship to God and went back to his camp to wake up the 300 men of his army. The strategy to attack the Midianites was somewhat illogical. Gideon’s army would be armed with trumpets and jars with torches inside. He divided them into three groups and said to them:

They did as instructed. The three groups surrounded the enemy. With the sound of the trumpets, the noise of the jars breaking, the light of the torches, and their shouts, they succeeded in confusing the other army. In the midst of the confusion, the Midianites turned on each other and fled. Several of the Israelite tribes pursued them, captured them, and killed them. This was how they achieved victory.

A Sad Ending

The Israelites wanted Gideon to rule over them, but he refused. He told them that only God should govern His people (Judges 8:23). However, Gideon made a great mistake. He made an ephod (a priestly garment) of gold with some of the rings from the spoils they had obtained. This ephod became an object of idolatry and brought a sad end for Gideon, his family, and all of Israel.

What Do We Learn from the Life of Gideon?

The life of Gideon teaches us valuable lessons about faith, humility, and obedience to God. Gideon considered himself incapable of leading, but God chose him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. One of the first lessons is that God does not choose people based on their strength or status, but by their willingness to obey. Although he felt small, Gideon trusted in God’s calling.

Another important lesson is the search for confirmation of God's will. Gideon asked for signs to be sure he was following the divine plan. This shows that, in moments of doubt, we can seek God’s direction, who gives us clarity.

The story of Gideon also teaches the importance of humility and trust in God, regardless of the circumstances. When God reduced his army from thirty-two thousand men to just three hundred, it showed that victory comes from His strength, not ours.

For our lives, we learn that when we trust in God, He equips us to fulfill purposes greater than our limitations. God uses those who follow Him with faith, even in the midst of great challenges.

Highlighted Events in the Life of Gideon

Other Biblical Stories That Might Be of Interest:

• 15 Bible Stories For Kids (And What We Learn From Them)
• The Story of The Birth of Jesus For Children (With Lessons)
• Bible Resources for Children
• Bible Characters: List of 71 People In The Bible And Their History
• 18 Beautiful Bible Stories to Read and Reflect On