Gideon, a foreshadowing of Christ

 

The entire Old Testament testimony is chalk full with narratives that illuminate us on the person of Christ. The stories illuminate the gospel of Christ. They demonstrate that Christ has been leading and guiding the people of Israel throughout their entire history. God has been preparing his people to see the Messiah before he was born into a human body.

A strong case can be made, that when Jesus was crucified on the cross, Cleopas and his brother, and the original followers and apostles of Christ, all were tested and found wanting, in their own personal faith in the Messiah. It appears they all gave in to the temptation to believe Jesus was not the messiah. Because he did not fulfill their conception of what the Messiah was supposed to come and do. How could he because he was dead?

 

In what way does the leadership of Gideon in the Bible, foreshadow the leadership of Christ?

 

Leadership of Gideon and Its Foreshadowing of Christ

1. The Call to Deliverance Gideon’s leadership begins with a divine calling during a time of oppression for the Israelites. He is chosen by God to deliver His people from the Midianites, despite his initial doubts about his capabilities and status. This mirrors Christ’s call to save humanity from sin and death. Just as Gideon was called from obscurity, Jesus came from humble beginnings, born in a manger and raised in Nazareth, a town often looked down upon.

2. The Assurance of God’s Presence When Gideon expresses doubt about his ability to lead, God reassures him with the promise, “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). This assurance reflects the presence of Christ among His followers, as seen in Matthew 28:20 where Jesus promises, “I am with you always.” Both leaders provide comfort and strength to their people through the assurance of God’s presence.

3. Signs and Miracles Gideon requests signs from God to confirm his mission, such as the famous fleece test (Judges 6:36-40). Similarly, Christ performed numerous miracles during His ministry to validate His authority and divine mission. These signs served not only as proof of their respective calls but also as means to strengthen the faith of those they led.

4. The Use of a Small Army Gideon leads an army that is intentionally reduced in size from thousands to just 300 men (Judges 7:7). This strategic choice emphasizes that victory comes not from human strength but through divine intervention. In parallel, Jesus’ teachings often highlight humility and reliance on God rather than worldly power or numbers—He chose twelve disciples who would change the world through their faith rather than military might.

5. The Victory Over Enemies Gideon’s victory over the Midianites is achieved through unconventional methods—using trumpets and torches hidden in jars (Judges 7:19-22). This reflects how Christ overcame sin and death not through force but through sacrifice on the cross. Both leaders demonstrate that true victory comes through obedience to God’s will rather than traditional warfare.

6. Establishment of Peace After Gideon’s victory, he builds an altar named “The Lord is Peace” (Judges 6:24), symbolizing restoration and peace for Israel after years of oppression. Similarly, Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), bringing spiritual peace between humanity and God through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

7. A Type of Christ Gideon serves as a type or foreshadowing of Christ in that he embodies qualities such as humility, reliance on God, and leadership against overwhelming odds for the sake of salvation. While Gideon was an imperfect leader who made mistakes throughout his life, he ultimately points toward the perfect leadership exemplified by Jesus.

In summary, Gideon’s leadership foreshadows that of Christ through divine calling, assurance of presence, miraculous signs, unconventional strategies for victory, establishment of peace, and serving as a type that highlights key aspects of Jesus’ mission on Earth.

 

 

Gideon was directed by God to select only a few men:

Gideon’s Army: Initial and Final Counts

To answer the question regarding Gideon and the number of men he started with, as well as how many were ultimately chosen to go into battle, we can refer to the biblical account found in the Book of Judges.

Step 1: Initial Count of Men

Gideon was called by God to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. Initially, Gideon gathered a large army to confront this formidable enemy. According to Judges 7:3, Gideon began with 32,000 men. This was a significant force, but it was still relatively small compared to the vast number of Midianite soldiers they would face.

Step 2: God’s Narrowing Process

God instructed Gideon that his army was too large. The rationale behind this directive was that if Israel were to win with such a large force, they might attribute their victory to their own strength rather than divine intervention. Therefore, God commanded Gideon to reduce his numbers.

The first reduction came when Gideon announced that any man who was afraid could return home. As a result, 22,000 men left, leaving Gideon with 10,000 men (Judges 7:3).

Step 3: Further Reduction by God

God then told Gideon that there were still too many men. He instructed Gideon to take the remaining soldiers down to the water and observe how they drank. Those who lapped water like dogs were selected for battle. This test resulted in only 300 menbeing chosen (Judges 7:6).

Thus, from an initial count of 32,000, after two rounds of reductions—first down to 10,000, and then finally narrowed down to just 300 soldiers—Gideon’s army was significantly diminished.

In summary:

• Initial count of men: 32,000
• Final count of soldiers after God’s selection process: 300

Therefore, the final answer is:

Gideon started with 32,000 men and ended up with 300 men for battle.

 

 

 

 

Great Video on the Subject of Gideon …