Torches and Jars

by Tom Brennan,

The Bible contains lots of numbers: three’s, sevens’ twelves and three hundreds. Recently a movie about the Three Hundred Spartans was popular. Done like a “graphic novel”, actually a comic book, it tells how three hundred brave warriors faced down a huge invader army and won historic fame even though they were overcome. Even the Alamo had almost three hundred defenders. But the three hundreds in the Bible have the deepest meaning because these warriors were chosen by their faith and bravery for mighty deeds.

The time of the Judges saw Israel still under attack from the Philistines. God raised up from the people His choice of leaders, not by popular election or birth but by His choice. Gideon is best remembered for an exploit that surpasses the Three Hundred Spartans. Gideon was told to choose from the Israelites a final number of three hundred brave and obedient warriors. After releasing those who would hesitate when facing great numbers, those who chose to stay with their wives and flocks and leaving only those true fighters, he was given a battle plan. Only an obedient servant and one who fully trusted his God would have dared to carry it out.

Besides their swords and spears the three hundred were to infiltrate the hills surrounding the camp of the Philstine army. They were to wait until ordered to move. They carried torches in clay jars and shofars, battle horns. The enemy was confident in their numbers and weapons. They sacrificed to their gods and slept the sleep of the arrogant. But a mighty God was at war. Lighting the torches the Israelites prepared for the order. Gideon sounded his shofar and the battle cry went up: “The sword of The Lord and Gideon”. The jars were broken and suddenly the hills were illuminated with what the enemy thought were thousands of warriors in a night attack. The battle horns, the sudden lights and battle cries work the enemy from their overconfident sleep and threw them into a panicky retreat. In the dark they slew their own comrades thinking they were Israelites, victory was The Lord’s.

The Mighty Ones of King David were in three hundreds and thirties. These were chosen men, only the bravest and most obedient. They followed David in his exile and in his battles against Saul’s heirs and again against David’s and Israel’s enemies. They were loyal even when he was not, betraying his noble general Uriah the Hittite for the love of a woman. They followed him after he repented even more faithfully.

Today many see Israel as facing overwhelming odds, even fatal ones. But even when Gideon and David faced the same, God sent a leader and three hundred to do battle and prevail. As a United States seems to be on path of internal crisis, as Israel faces enemies on all fronts, God has supplied allies from places never imagined. Egypt, home of Pharaoh, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, India and even China all acknowledge that Israel is under covenant and even a nonbeliever can acknowledge that.

We are the three hundreds, we are the obedient and faithful, we must stand with our God and Israel as tests and trials approach. We can do no less.

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