So .... lately I've been really starting to wonder about this whole
plan that God has and beginning to see that his plan is often different
than mine and he often has unconventional ways of seeing things through.
I have had most of the doors that I thought were open slammed shut only
to find that around the corner, where I wasn't looking there is an open
door to something even better than what I thought was behind the first
door.
This morning .... an old friend from high school that I haven't spoken
to much since 1988 left me a quick note on Facebook saying that he is
praying for me and that he has a strong feeling that he needed to tell
me that Gideon's battle was unconventional and that God took him
through extra measures just to ensure that everyone knew that the
battle was won by God and not by Gideon or his amazing army......
WOW ----- Thanks God for urging an old friend to share your wisdom.
I know that it has to be YOU because there is no way that he could know
much about my life right now... and my head is spinning
Check out the passage from God in the NIV --- GHAP (
God
Has
A Plan)
Judges 6
Gideon Defeats the Midianites
1
Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men
camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in
the valley near the hill of Moreh.
2
The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver
Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me
that her own strength has saved her,
3
announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn
back and leave Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand men left, while
ten thousand remained.
4
But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them
down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This
one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not
go with you,' he shall not go."
5
So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him,
"Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from
those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7
The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will
save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men
go, each to his own place." 8
So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the
three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11
and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged
to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the
outposts of the camp. 12
The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had
settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be
counted than the sand on the seashore.
13
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a
dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into
the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent
overturned and collapsed."
14
His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of
Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and
the whole camp into his hands."
15
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God.
He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has
given the Midianite camp into your hands." 16
Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets
and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18
When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around
the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' "
19
Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the
beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard.
They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20
The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping
the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the
trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for
Gideon!" 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men
throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army
fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel
Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24
Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying,
"Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan
ahead of them as far as Beth Barah."
So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25
They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They
killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb.
They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to
Gideon, who was by the Jordan.