"The LORD said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, "My own hand has saved me."'" — Judges 7:2
Hebrew/Greek Terms: יָדִי (yadi) - my hand; הוֹשִׁיעָה (hoshi'ah) - has saved; פֶּן־יִתְפָּאֵר (pen-yitpa'er) - lest [they] glorify themselves/boast
"Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." — Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Hebrew/Greek Terms: כֹּחִי (kochi) - my power; עֹצֶם יָדִי (otsem yadi) - might of my hand; הוּא הַנֹּתֵן (hu hanoten) - He who gives
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Echo
Connection Method(s): Analogy
Verbal Links: Both texts warn against attributing God's salvation/provision to "my hand" (יָדִי). Deuteronomy warns "lest you say... my hand has gotten me this wealth." Judges shows God acting to prevent this very boast: "lest Israel say, 'My own hand has saved me.'" The vocabulary of human hand claiming divine work is identical.
Contextual Links: Moses warned Israel before entering Canaan not to forget God's provision. Gideon's story shows God actively structuring salvation to prevent the very boast Moses warned against. God doesn't just command against boasting—He designs victory to make boasting impossible.
God's concern to receive glory for His saving work is not arbitrary but covenantal. Deuteronomy 8:18 connects this to "confirming his covenant"—God's reputation is tied to His covenant faithfulness. When Gideon's army is reduced from 32,000 to 300, God is ensuring His covenant-keeping power is unmistakable. This principle governs all God's saving acts: from the Exodus (Exodus 14:4) to the cross (1 Corinthians 1:29). Paul applies this same principle to gospel ministry: "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
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