Faint, Yet Pursuing

APRIL 20, 2023

 “And Gideon came to Jordon, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.” (Judges 8:4)

These three hundred men, though faint, were not faint-hearted. If they had been cowards, they would have left Gideon when he gave all who were fearful their leave. He had said to them at the outset, “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead.” They would hardly have been noticed among the twenty and two thousand who accepted the offer, leaving their general with an army of ten thousand men. Out of that small company, which was yet too large, these three hundred were selected as the men who lapped. These men, when allowed to drink, did not take their leisure, but ran to the stream and lapped the water like a hunting dog that laps and runs, wasting no time in the process. They were men who had given themselves up to this necessary war against the murdering, plundering Midianites who had driven the Israelites into hiding in dens and caves. Gideon had been raised up by God to deliver His people from these oppressors, and his loyal army of three hundred stayed with him all the way.

Here we find them, “faint, yet pursuing.” They were not faint because they were dispirited, for they had just won a great victory. They had broken the pitchers, unveiled the lamps, blown the trumpets, and shouted, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” They plunged themselves into the battle, chasing the fleeing Midianite warriors, slaying thousands of them. Every man among them was a hero, and yet they were faint.

What a picture of the persevering child of God! He has long fought the good fight, served his Master well, and won great victories through grace, yet he is faint. This faintness is certainly not to his shame; it rather testifies to what true stuff he is made. Could there be a better illustration of Christian Perseverance? Their step has slowed, but they are still pressing on. They may become weary in the way, but not weary of the way; they are weary, but not “weary in well doing.” (Gal. 6:9) The Savior gently rebuked His sleepy disciples who had not been able to watch with Him just one hour, saying, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Here, however, faithful Gideon and his persevering men did not succumb to the natural weakness and fatigue of the flesh; they were “faint, yet pursuing.”

Let us not grow weary in well-doing. Let us pursue on in spite of the weariness and waning stamina that we might be experiencing. Let us not allow physical weakness, bodily infirmity, mental depression, or any other malady related to these mortal frames hinder us in this holy warfare. After all, these faint, yet pursuing warriors were well aware of what we also know: it was not their vigor and strength that had gotten them the initial victory over the Midianites, who outnumbered them by fifteen hundred to one. Therefore, they continued to pursue, even in weakness, knowing that the Lord’s “strength is made perfect in weakness.” Just as He is “able to save by many or by few,” He is able to give victory regardless of whether we are full of vigor and vitality or faint and weary in battle. Gideon’s men were so very few, and they were faint, and yet they pursued the enemy expecting victory. We too are few and often reminded of our weakness but let us remember that our extremity is God’s opportunity.

It is our great duty and privilege to serve the Lord Who has saved us by His grace. We have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We rejoice in a finished work whereby we are saved. Let us, therefore, serve our Lord to the last fragment of our strength. Let us give Him all the strength we have until we are fairly exhausted and ready to faint, and even then let us be yet pursuing.