NOTES for Jdg 7:1-25
The selection of the most steadfast warriors was prompted not only by the need to choose the best of the best. The victory over the enemy, won by a small force under the command of the low-born Gideon, is not only a sign of God's power and invincibility. Here the Lord reveals something that will appear again and again in the history of salvation: His strength can be manifested in weakness; He Himself can humble Himself, yet even in His abasement His greatness is revealed.
For the pagans, by contrast, their military power and great numbers do not in themselves guarantee victory. As in the building of the Tower of Babel, the pagans' very opposition to the Lord's will sows discord in their ranks, weakens them, and contributes to their defeat. Opposition to God sooner or later leads to a war of all against all and destroys those who oppose Him.