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The Midianites had ruled Israel for over seven years.  They trampled the Israelite's crops and generally made their lives very difficult.  Gideon was a member of the weakest tribe in Israel, and he thought of himself as the weakest member of that tribe.  When God sent an angel who told him he was the mighty warrior who would drive the Midianites out of Israel, Gideon thought it might be a mistake.

Gideon prayed for God to send him a sign, and asked that the morning dew gather in some wool fleece he placed on the ground, but that the grass around the fleece  stay dry.  When he woke the next morning, it was just as he had asked, so he knew God really thought he could be a might warrior!

He set out to recruit soldiers, and over 30,000 volunteered. God said there were too many of them, so Gideon gave the men tests to see who the best warriors were and selected only the finest 300.

Gideon and his small army of warriors marched to the Midianite camp, and during the night Gideon prayed and God answered.  Gideon returned to his men and gave them each a trumpet and a clay jar with a torch inside.  He split them into three groups and had them surround the Midianite camp. 

On Gideon's command, the men blew their trumpets, smashed their jars on the ground, and shouted "For the Lord and for Gideon!"  The Midianites got so scared and confused they began to fight with each other before running away....and they ran all the way out of Israel!

With the help of God, Gideon freed his country from the Midianites!