A good many did not respond to the summons.  Some were simply indifferent.  They could not help hearing the call, but there was no response without or within.  No change of expression in the eye or face.  They went right on in their heavy, dull way as though they hadn’t heard.  They were utterly indifferent to the call.  Some were reluctant.  They stopped and listened, but with a heavy slant backwards to their bodies.  Their heels bore most of their weight.  It was a good idea to get up such a movement, the enemy ought to be driven back and out, but—­but—­and their eyes are half shut already.

Some criticised.  Who was Gideon?  A young upstart! trying to push himself forward as a leader.  He had no skill or experience.  And the people had no weapons.  The enemy had stolen everything of the sort away.  And they were clear outnumbered.  There wasn’t a ghost of a show.  It would only make bad matters worse.  This young upstart Gideon would soon be sorry enough when he butted his head against the experienced Midianite leaders.  And—­and—­and—­there they are talking, criticising, but not responding to the call.  Such critics seldom respond, and helpers criticise in a very different way.  It takes less brain to criticise unwisely, captiously, far less than to help.  Almost any hare-brain can tear a thing to pieces.  And nothing is commoner than just such criticism.

Some ridiculed.  “Ha! ha! ha!  Gideon going to be national leader; ha! ha! ha!  And whip the enemy.  Ridiculous!  Absurd!” And some were outrightly opposed.  They objected.  The people would be aroused, their hopes awakened only to be dashed.  The whole thing was wrong, for it was impossible.  And these men tried to keep others from going.

A Willing People.

But many came.  A crowd of volunteers came hurrying from farms and caves, bringing such weapons probably as they had been able to keep in hiding.  They were willing to respond.  It was a motley crowd, no doubt.  There were thirty-two thousand of them.  These four tribes had once numbered as many as one hundred and eighty-four thousand five hundred fighting men.  And at another, later, enumeration they had two hundred and twelve thousand men of war age.  Their numbers may be smaller now, though possibly not.  It looks as though only a small minority of all had responded, maybe one in six or so.

These men had the first great qualification for service, they were willing.  They were actively willing.  They willed to come down to the front and help fight the enemy, and deliver their nation.  It is a great quality this of being willing.  That prophetic One Hundred and Tenth Psalm mentions this as the great characteristic of those who shall rally about God’s King in a coming day of power.  God reckons our service not by our ability but by our willingness.[31]

Whatever is given out of a warm, willing heart is eagerly accepted by Him.  The Hebrew tabernacle was constructed of free-will offerings.  The people came willingly with their offerings and left them for Moses’ use.  Some brought gold and silver, some finely woven tapestries and silks.  Here was one poor woman who wanted to give but had very little.  So she went out to her little flock of goats whereby her living came to her, and cut off a big bunch of goat’s hair, and then with much pains dyed it red.