Judges 7:15

*“When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, ‘Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands.’”* (v.15)

In this verse, Gideon—a judge of Israel who likely lived in the late second millennium BC (during the 12th century BC)—receives divine confirmation for battle. He listens to a Midianite soldier recount a dream that symbolically foretells Gideon’s victory over the Midianite army. The mention of “Midian” points to the people who originally descended from Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:2,4). Over time, these Midianites made their dwelling primarily east of Canaan in the Arabian desert. By the time of Gideon, they had severely oppressed Israel, prompting God to raise up Gideon as a deliverer. Hearing the dream and its interpretation fills Gideon with faith, and his immediate response is profound reverence: he “bowed in worship.” This act underscores that God is the true source of victory, highlighting a central theme throughout the book of Judges, where the LORD uses seemingly weak or outnumbered people to triumph over mightier foes.

Following his worship, Gideon quickly acts as a leader, returning to the Israelite camp to rally his forces. Even though Gideon commands only a small band of 300 men (Judges 7:7), his proclamation—“Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands”—shows that he fully trusts in God’s promise. This trust reflects a pattern seen in other biblical narratives where faith in God supersedes human reasoning. Gideon’s obedience, combined with God’s power, will soon bring a decisive victory for Israel. The geographical setting is the Valley of Jezreel, near the hill of Moreh, a place that served as the gathering site for both Gideon’s reduced army and the massive Midianite force. Through this, the LORD proves again that no enemy can withstand the might of His plan.

Gideon’s moment of worship points us to a deeper spiritual lesson: God sustains those who remain humble and attentive to Him amid overwhelming circumstances. When we recognize God’s sovereignty, as Gideon did, we find calm reliance on His promise and the strength to act. This divine plan to save Israel from oppression draws attention to the broader truths in Scripture that God hears the cries of His people and will deliver them in His timing (Judges 6:7-14).

Gideon humbly worshiped God and led Israel to victory after receiving assurance that the LORD had given the Midianite camp into their hands.