Gideon prayed, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—look, I shall put a fleece of wool in the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” In the morning the fleece was wet, while the ground was dry. But now a doubt came, since wool naturally absorbs moisture when there is any in the air, the test might not be decisive. So he asked that the sign be reversed, and his request was granted.
Encouraged, Gideon led his forces out to battle the invaders. “All the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.” The entire force under Gideon’s command was only thirty-two thousand men. But with the vast army of the enemy spread out before him, the word of the Lord came: “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” Those unwilling to face danger and hardship would not add any strength to the armies of Israel.
Gideon was astonished at the statement that his army was too large, but the Lord saw the pride and unbelief in the hearts of His people. Motivated by the appeals of Gideon, they had promptly enlisted, but many were filled with fear when they saw the huge army of Midian. Yet, if Israel had won, those very ones would have taken glory to themselves instead of crediting the victory to God.
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