Gideon's 300

Recently on TV a lot has been, one of my fav’s, the Spartan movie, 300
 

Daxos: I see I was wrong to expect Sparta's commitment to at least match our own.

King Leonidas:  Doesn't it?

[points to Arcadian soldier behind Daxos]

King Leonidas: You there, what is your profession?

Free Greek Potter:  I am a potter... sir.
King Leonidas:  [points to another soldier] And you, Arcadian, what is your profession?
Free Greek Sculptor:  Sculptor, sir.
King Leonidas: Sculptor.
[turns to a third soldier]

King Leonidas: You?

Free Greek Blacksmith:  Blacksmith.

King Leonidas:  [turns back shouting] SPARTANS! What is YOUR profession?

Spartans:  HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!

King Leonidas: [turning to Daxos] You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did!

 

Gideon in the Bible has his own version of 300

God told Gideon to cut his army so everyone would know that God defeated the Mideanites and not Gideon.  Gideon kept reducing army finally down to 300.  Check out the full story in Judges 6-8

WHAT WE LEARN

·         God math is not the same as ours 300 is > 32,000

·         Gideon’s obedience required him to take a stand even against his own father and tribe.

·         We can also see how God uses ordinary people to accomplish His plans, although with Gideon, the key factor was his willingness to obey God. Gideon had gone from being “a warrior in hiding, threshing wheat at the foot of a hill out of sight of the enemy, to vanquishing the same enemy in battle.”

·         Sometimes, the most difficult people to witness to, are our families.

·         When you cry out, God answers, God encourages, God strengthens, promises and provides and says I will be with you and bring victory – “a sword for the Lord and for Gideon”

·         NOT always… (that God will always use us and that we will always honor God) Later in life, Gideon took many wives and fathered 70 unnamed sons.   His son Abimelech, born to a concubine, rebelled and murdered all 70 of his half-brothers.  Abimelech died in battle, ending a short, wicked reign.