²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had commanded. But he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of his father’s household and the people of the town.

²⁸ Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed. 

²⁹ The people said to each other, “Who did this?” And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash.

³⁰ “Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.”

³¹ But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!” 

³² From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 

³⁷ prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” 

³⁸ And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.

³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 

⁴⁰ So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

⁹ That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! 

¹⁰ But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah.

¹¹ Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.”  So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp.

 ¹² The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count! 

¹³ Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”

¹⁴ His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord.  Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”

¹⁶ He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.

¹⁷ Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. 

¹⁸ As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

¹⁹ It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. 

²⁰ Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon!”

²¹ Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape. 

²² When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled away. 

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

 ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

2 PETER 3:9 (NASB95) - The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

ROMANS 10:13 (NASB95) - for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Psalm 103:1-3 (NASB95) - 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; ³ Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;

3 John : 2 (NASB95) - Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health,just as your soul prospers.

1 John 3:8 (NASB95) - the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 

Galatians 5:1 (NASB95) - It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Acts 13:39 (NASB95) - and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

1 John 1:9 (NASB95) -  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sinsand to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 6:12,14 (NASB95) -¹² ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

^14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB95) -  and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.