“Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.” Judges 6:33-35
Gideon faced and passed his first test of faith and obedience. It was a test of opposition within his own family and community. Now he faces a second test. This is a battle against the world system that is staunchly opposed to God. Gideon is about to face a challenge from a superior and overwhelming enemy. It is a battle that there is no way, humanly speaking, that he can win. All the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East have gathered together to attack Israel When Cain sinned he was banished to the east, away from the God he rebelled against and rejected. Later we read Abraham had six sons by Keturah, his wife after the death of Sarah. One of those sons was Midian who we read settled in “the land of the east” (Genesis 25:6). Midianite women were used by Balak to lure men in Israel into sin. At this time God told Moses to wage war against the Midianite’s and kill them. The Amalekites were a fierce and brutal nation that attacked Israel at every chance. God had directed Israel to wipe this nation off the face of the earth but Israel did not obey His command. (Later generations now battle against enemies their fathers did not deal with as God said.) Now both these nations unite together to wage an offensive attack against Israel. They cross the Jordan entering the land that God gave Israel. They make camp and ready themselves for battle in the valley of Jezreel where the great battle of Armageddon will be fought at the end of the Tribulation. At that time the armies of the east will surround Israel to attack it once again. The Israelite tribes of Manasseh, Zebulun, and Issachar all shared parts of the Jezreel Valley so these armies are now camped in Gideon’s backyard. When this happens two acts occur.
The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon God comes upon Gideon to empower him and guide him. In the Old Testament the Spirit of God did not indwell a person as He does at salvation in the New Testament age. The Spirit came upon people at certain times for certain purposes. Here the Spirit of God comes on Gideon to prepare him to lead Israel into battle and to overthrow their oppressors.
He sounded the trumpet The word sounded has the implication of thrusting a weapon. We see the mighty armies of the east ready to do battle with all the worldly weapons they can muster. Gideon prepares
for war with a trumpet. In Scripture the trumpet can signify an alarm of war, a call to assemble, or a command to march forward. Here Gideon summons an army to fight with him. This is an act of faith because he is not well known but the fierce Midianites surely are. Led by God, Gideon summons Israel’s tribes to fight. A few respond.
The Abiezrites were called out to follow him The first response to Gideon’s call likely encourages him and discourages him simultaneously. His own people who had just wanted to kill him respond. Now they offer to follow him but he would remember they are the least of the tribes of Manasseh. Gideon probably knew they were not fierce enough or numerous enough to defeat the battle tested army of the east.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them. Gideon broadens his call for volunteers to go with him to fight Midian. (He won’t need them!) The three tribes he summons are to the north of Manasseh and the Midianite army is to the south. Interestingly he does not summon Issachar who is known to have mighty soldiers in the tribe. Since Gideon does this after being filled with the Spirit of God we realize God is teaching Gideon a lesson. He calls three of the smaller tribes to fight. Perhaps Gideon thinks that as they move south to do battle some of the larger tribes like Ephraim and Gad will
join forces with him. God however does not want Gideon to trust in numbers or in the fierceness of the warriors but in Him alone. Therefore God has a different path planned for His servant. If God is with you, you never have to worry about the size of your army.