Gideon's appeal to the people who had gathered around him to fight against the Midianites was counterproductive in the eyes of those who did not have true faith in God. Not everyone would remain by his side, and this command came from the Lord. Gideon would have to proclaim the following message: anyone who was cowardly or fearful should return home. Apparently, he would weaken himself by speaking this way, but that was not what happened.

Definitely, man does not see as the Lord sees. What we see is not the truth, for cowards and fearful people among brave soldiers bring defeat. If we remember David, for example, we see that his eyes were opened to things similar to what God showed Gideon. In Psalm 144, David asked the Most High: Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood— (v. 11).

The total number of those who joined Gideon for battle was 32,000 men, but 22,000 of them would make the worst decision: to retreat, because they were afraid of their enemies and their lies. The result would be defeat for those who dared to fight against the confederation of peoples that had dominated Israel for seven years. By cowering and surrendering to the enemy, this bad example, like gangrene, would destroy the strength of the strongest, and everyone would surrender in tears.

Therefore, the cowards and fearful should return to their homes so as not to hinder others in battle. Without those 22,000 men, Gideon's army became stronger because the “tumors” of the troop had been removed. Similarly, the war against sin will only be won by the courageous, who love to do God's will and use a weapon that only those who trust in the Lord with all their hearts have: faith (1 John 5:4).

The commander of the Israelite army was happy with that adjustment. With the Most High and ten thousand men, he felt capable of facing the evil confederacy. It was time for Israel to assume its role as God's people, just as we must do today in leading and building up the Church. The children of the Lord will never accept being seen as cowards and fearful; rather, they will pray with all their hearts for Him to deliver them from the clutches of the enemy. After all, where there is cowardice and fear, the worst demons of Hell reign.

I imagine that in Gideon's heart there was already a feeling that among them there were scum who, if not removed, could lead them to defeat, but he gave this concern to the Lord. Only God could say how to cleanse the group, and He did. Then the remnant was strengthened to achieve complete victory.

Notice how God speaks and instructs those He has chosen. Gideon was visited by the Angel of the Lord and led the armed revolt against the evil peoples who oppressed them, plundered them, and wanted their annihilation. History repeats itself in every generation, so we must cry out for those whom God raises up as examples for the new generations that are being saved, so that they may continue to cooperate with Him in the work of saving the world.

In Christ, with love,        

R. R. Soares.