#12 – Modern Day Gideon’s Army – May 23, 2024

Psalm 121:4, 7-8, “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.  The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”

There’s a lot of talk about Israel going around these days.  Many are accusing Israel of heinous crimes against the Palestinian people, when in fact it’s just the opposite.  As with many unbelievers, when they hear of spiritual historical stories in the Bible they will tell you, “That’s impossible. They’re just made up stories!” 

One of the stories they doubt is the story of Gideon’s army of 300. Found in the Book of Judges chapter 7 we read this story and are amazed at how such few men could outwit an army of so many.

When the Lord told Gideon that he would be the one to go and lead the Israelite army to defeat the Midianites, Gideon replied in Judges 6:15, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”  However, the Lord assured him that He would be with him and through a sign using the “fleece”, Gideon agreed to the challenge.

When the battle finally began, Gideon’s army consisted of 300 and the opposing army consisted of 135,000. Gideon’s army overtook the army of the Midianites by a well devised plan by Gideon, and the Lord, and the frightened army of the Midianites fled in all directions.  God gave Israel the great victory that day and it was, without a doubt, a divine miracle.

But…that was something that happened thousands of years ago.  What about a more recent miracle that involved Israel that many people today might remember?

In the magazine “Israel My Glory” they reflect on the Six-Day War of 1967.  The following is taken from that magazine:

“In May 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, advised by false intelligence from the Soviet Union, began moving 80,000 Egyptian troops, 550 tanks, and 1,000 pieces of artillery into the Sinai Peninsula.  On May 23, he cut off Israel’s shipping lanes by blocking the Straits of Tiran, a direct violation of UN Security Council resolution 118.  This was, by all definitions, an act of war.

By early June, five Arab nations had allied against Israel and assembled their armies on Israel’s borders: 80,000 Egyptian troops: 60,000 Jordanian troops, plus Iraqi forces; 50,000 Syrian troops; and a combined Arab air force of some 600 planes.

On June 5, 1967, Israel’s air force, flying low to avoid radar detection, made its way to Egypt.  Before Egypt’s air force could get its jets in the air, Israel bombed Egypt’s runways and took out two-thirds of Egypt’s air force, the largest in the Arab world – all in a mere four hours!

What Egypt had promised would be “the extermination of Zionist existence”, was anything but.  Though Egypt’s forces outnumbered Israel’s by three to one, its army retreated in defeat.  Israel took control of the Sinai and opened the Port of Sharm el-Sheikh, reopening the sea lanes.

The defeats of the other Arab armies came in quick succession.  Most significantly, on June 7, Israel pushed Jordan’s forces out of eastern Jerusalem, taking control of the Temple Mount.  This was the first time in 2,000 years that a united Jerusalem lay in the hands of a sovereign Jewish nation.  Jordan’s assault on Israel was over.

In merely six days, Israel not only defeated its powerful Arab neighbors, but it also captured militarily strategic territory (the Golan Heights from Syria, Judea and Samaria from Jordan, the Gaza Strip and Sinai from Egypt), making it far easier for Israel to protect its people.”

God gave Israel the great victory that day also and it was, without a doubt, a divine miracle.

Do you know people who think those old stories from “olden times” are impossible to believe?  With all that’s happening in Israel today, do you think the Great Protector is still watching over them and protecting them from their adversaries?  Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’”.

So the next time the doubters come at you with a “That’s Impossible” reply, let them know that with God…ANYTHING truly is possible!

Nancy Stoppe                     

Stoppe123@comcast.net

Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com  (inspirational insights 6 .com)