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We hear that prophecy and we can understand why the people saw it as a mystery. How was this going to happen? How could the yoke be taken from men? How could it be likened to as in the day of Midian? If we go to the recording of Gideon who was one of the judges when the children of Israel entered the promised land, we see a picture that makes it clear in our mind, but those people could not understand it for they had not yet received the Holy Spirit, this fire, this burning that the prophet said how it would come about, not with force but through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we reflect on Gideon, he faced the Midianites that were coming by their many thousands. The Scripture says they were like the ants of the land. There was no hope in repelling them, but in their trust in God Gideon gathered his armies. The Israeli army was 60,000 men, so we can only imagine how many were in the opposing force. God said to Gideon, send the people home, for if I allow a victory then they will become elevated and high-minded; and he sent home 50,000 of his warriors and had 10,000 left, but God said – There is still too many and He imposed a test upon them on how they drank their water. Those that cupped their hand and drank their water looking upto heaven, He said – Set them aside, and there were 300 and God said – Now I will bring about a victory. Send the rest home. We can see that the world is foreshadowed here. Many, many, hundreds of thousands have not yet received this blessing, but God chose and chooses a few to take this forward because they are not walking alone, they are walking with the Holy Spirit. That is why the Apostle Paul said that he is but a minister. He is the least of the saints, but he has to be obedient to that Spirit. Gideon was told to arm his 300, not with swords or spears. They had to take a trumpet in one hand and they had to take an earthen pitcher in the other, and within that pitcher they had to put a lamp and light it, and they had to surround this camp by 100 on all sides, showing very clearly the width of God’s work will be in every part of the world, and at the appointed time Gideon had to give the signal and they had to break the pitcher and a light shone forth. We see today that that earthen vessel was Christ. He had to be broken into the world before mankind so that His light could go forth, as the prophet said – They have seen this light in a dark world. We can imagine those lights that lit up completely surrounding the camp on that day, and they then had to blow their trumpets. The trumpets represent the Word of God.  They had to give this Word of God into the world and they had to shout -The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, meaning that the sword of God is the Word of God that can sever even bone and marrow. The Sword of the Lord had to go into the world and of Gideon; meaning that his servants also take and be active, and respected within the world for these instructions of God.  We can read that the Midianites were confounded, and they began to fight amongst each other, and they destroyed themselves and were able then to be followed up by the armies of Israel.  We can also see the prophecy of a child being born into the world who would go on and become the leader over everything.  We should be so thankful that we have been blessed also through the power of the Holy Spirit in receiving the mysteries of God, for it strengthens our faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We should play our part in allowing the light to surround the enemies of God.