The least in his family, Gideon yet feared them. He worked hard but found it hard to obey God. He believed God but struggled trusting Him. He was called and empowered to deliver Israel, yet was weak to obey. He wasn’t looking to be a hero, he just wanted to survive another day. God, by His grace, makes servants out of His people, not heroes.

I. God’s Testing (Judg 7:1). As Gideon waited at Harod (trembling), he surely expected a brilliant military strategy from God; instead, God said his Spirit-called army of 32,000 was too large while the enemy numbered 135,000 (Judg 6:34-35; 8:10). In accordance with the Law, God told Gideon to send the fearful men home (Deut 20:1-9). Imagine the despair when two-thirds of his army went home leaving him with only 10,000 soldiers like Barak earlier (Judg 4:10; 7:3).
God was removing every resource Gideon had but Him. God may send sickness or disaster, remove finances, family, and friends, or add trials to trim and train us to trust only in Him. Power, pride, and possessions work against us in God’s service, but our weakness is His doorway of power, wisdom, and glory in us (Heb 11:34). He saves by many or few (1 Sam 14:6), but He alone gives victory and deserves glory (1 Chron 29:10-15).
Ten thousand soldiers were still too many, so God would test the remaining men for Gideon (Judg 7:4)! The word test means to refine. An untested faith isn’t to be trusted. God doesn’t test our faith to discover its genuineness. If He gave it, He knows it is real and in Him. He puts our faith to the test so we can know it’s genuine, and then to strengthen the faith He’s given. Professor JG Stipe likened faith to a toothbrush; everyone ought to have one and use it regularly, but never to use someone else’s. If your faith is in faith, a form, a formula, a feeling, or another fellow, it isn’t a God-given faith. God’s testing always exposes fake faith.

II. God’s Election (Judg 7:2-8). The sovereign God showed Gideon who to keep according to His own predetermined eternal will, an example of what is called the Doctrine of Election (Jn 6:35-45; 8:39-47; Rom 8:28-30; 9:6-18; Eph 1:3-6). Each man would have said he thirsted and drank as an exercise of his own free-will (Jn 7:37), but it was God who made these men both thirsty and willing! He used an ordinary exercise to accomplish His will. Ordinary events of life may be God’s tests, so count every occasion as a great occasion for God to work His will.
Those chosen by the Father go to the Son for salvation. If you’ve come to Him, it’s only because the Father first gave you to Jesus for salvation before the world existed (Jn 6:37).
God’s rejection of the men who got down on their hands and knees had nothing to do with being alert. He rejected them because He determined to send them home before they ever reached the stream. The 300 remaining were chosen by the wisdom and will of God for this mission of deliverance, and only He would receive the glory of victory.

III. God’s Grace (Judg 7:9-14). God knew Gideon’s fear and weakness, meeting his frailty and failure with His grace (Judg 6:14, 16; 7:7, 9-11). He sovereignly sent His servant into the enemy camp at the right time and place, providentially ordaining the circumstances to assure Gideon He was at work.
God knows us better than we know ourselves (Ps 78:39; 103:14) and meets us with the same grace as with Gideon. Our utter helplessness is not reason to despair or attempt to live in our failed strengths, but to turn in dependence upon Jesus. The struggles with our weaknesses - all of which are the result of sin - are met in Jesus. Our Great High Priest bought our salvation at the cross with His own blood, then secured our place with the Father by going before us into Heaven. He made propitiation [payment in full] for our sins by His death, and now ever lives to minister the power of His work in our weakness by His grace (Heb 2:11-18; 4:14-16).