122

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE.

LXXX,

JHE Nicut BEFORE THE PATTLE.

T was night. To-morrow,
| Gideon and his army must
go and fight against their
| cruel enemies the Midian-

ites. How did Gideon
feel? <A battle is a very dangerous
thing. Gideon could not tell who
might be killed; perhaps he might
die, perhaps some of his dear friends ;
but he did not fear, because God was
with him, and had promised him the
victory. Captains and commanders
of armies may be quiet and happy,
if they are ready to die; they need
not be afraid in the most dangerous
battle, if God be with them.

While Gideon was lying down to
rest, and his 300 soldiers by him, he
heard a voice calling to Him. Who
spoke? Was it an enemy come to
kill him, and his little army? No,
it was no enemy, it was Gideon’s
best Friend who spoke to him,—it
was the voice of God. When all
are asleep, the eye of God is still
open; He never sleeps, but watches
over His people, and keeps them in
safety. How pleasant it is to be the
people of God, and to have our kind
Father and Friend to take care of
us, when we are sleeping upon our
beds, in the long dark night!

But why did God speak to Gideon ?
He came to comfort him. God
knew all Gideon felt: all his fears
and sorrows were remembered by
Him; and now He came to encour-
age him before the battle began.
God said to Gideon, “ Arise, go
down to the army of the Midianites.
If thou fear to go alone, take Phurah
thy servant with thee ; go and hear

 

what the Midianites say, and after-
wards thou shalt feel strengthened
to go down to the army.” So
Gideon and his servant Phurah
went directly, as God commanded.
They went, without fear, very near
to their enemies, because they knew
that God was with them, and would
keep them safely. The tents of the
Midianites and the Amalekites cov-
ered all the valley; they were very
many. ‘The soldiers were sleeping
in the tents, and their camels lay by
them; they were so many, Gideon
could not count them. But the
Midianites were not all asleep; some
were keeping watch, and some were
making ready for the morrow, and
some were talking; but none of
them saw Gideon and his servant.
There were two men, Midianites,
talking together, and Gideon and
Phurah went near to them, to hear
what they said. One man was telling
his dream to his friend; he said,
“T dreamed that I saw a cake of
bread tumble into the hosts of the
Midianites; I saw it fall upon a
tent, and the tent was overturned,
and thrown down.” His friend
answered, “ That cake of bread is
Gideon, the commander of the Is-
raclites; he will fall upon us, and
destroy our army, because God ig
with him.” When Gideon heard
what the man said, he rejoiced, and
thanked and worshipped God. He
felt now sure of the victory. Then
he and Phurah went back to the
Israelites, and Gideon said, “ Arise,
for God gives the Midianites into
our hand.”