And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” Judges 8:4-7
After Gideon faces the wrath of the Ephramhites, he now faces a second satanic attack from fellow believers. This time it is driven not be anger but by fear. Gideon is in hot pursuit of the Midianite stragglers and their leaders. He and his 300 men have called for help which they received on the west side of the Jordan. As Gideon and his men travel east across the Jordan, their situation changes dramatically.
And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and
the 300 men who were with him The Midianite kings Zebah and
Zalmunna, lead a band of 15,000 soldiers southward. They decide to cross the Jordan River. Gideon and the 300 men pursue this army to destroy them as God had commanded.
Exhausted yet pursuing Gideon and his men have been fighting all night. The faithful soldiers are busy doing God’s work but not without a toll. They are exhausted (faint, weary or famished). Despite their weariness they continue to battle but they are in need of resources, food and drink.
So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” After Gideon crosses the Jordan going east he comes to the city of Succoth. There he begs for food for his troops so that they can continue to do the work of God.
And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” Gideon learns very quickly the hearts of the Israelites have not changed despite the great miracle God has performed on their behalf. Succoth was located in the land of Gad. This is a tribe that settled for land across the Jordan. By not following God fully, they lived in a land that was the first to be attacked when invading armies came against Israel. When Gideon asks for help from the leaders of Succoth their answer shows fear and in derision. First,
they may have seen the 15,000 Midianite troops flee past them to the east. When they see Gideon’s 300 they think there is no way he can possibly be a victor with those odds. Second, they act in fear. Despite Gideon being an Israelite they fear if they aide him, the Midianites will return and retaliate against them. Thus this tribe walks purely by sight with no thought of God. Therefore they snidely tell Gideon that until he has actually captured the two kings they will not assist him in any way.
Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. This is a troubling passage for it seems to be a sudden change in Gideon. He is acting according to God’s will. He is upset over their refusal to aide his army and he lashes out against the leaders of Succoth. He declares to them that he will return victorious, and when he does he will punish their cowardice and selfishness severely.
What can we learn? We see the sad state of immature believers in this passage. We do not see Gideon seek God’s direction in his actions. Does he take matters in his own hands as he becomes the judge of Succoth rather than Go?. We do not see the soft answer that he used when the tribe of Epharim chastised him for not including them. We do note all this happened while Gideon is tired and exhausted -a time when all believers are tempted to take matters into their own hands rather than seek God’s will. At the same time we see a selfish, doubting fearful people who are unwilling to provide sacrificial assistance to those who are doing the Lord’s work – a picture of many believers and even churches today. When believers are walking in the flesh, bad things happen.