[Pastor Ralph]

Q6. (Judges 7:13-14) What does the rolling barley loaf mean in the Midianite's dream? Why does the Lord show Gideon this dream? 

[Mario Angel]

Like the commentary says in the Exposition:

"People of that day didn't bake bread in loaf pans, but as round lumps of dough that might bake into perfect wheels. The Midianite guard has seen just one of these loaves in his dream, careening down hill into the camp. In his dream, the small loaf strikes and collapses a tent many times its size."

I think that the rolling barley loaf was a picture of what was about to happen to the Midianites, that they would be defeated by the Israelites, they were about to be run over by the army of Gideon.
I think that God choosed to show this dream to Gideon to strength Gideon's faith and trust in the Lord and also to prove Gideon that if he trusted the Lord he could do anything that God would require from him.

[Omie]

+ 7:13-14 Gideon heard the dream's explanation because he was receiving reassurance from God for the coming battle. The dream was explained as the bread being "the sword of Gideon" which would destroy (Liv.B. massacre) the enemy camp. With the enemy now showing fear Gideon has the courage to go forward.

+ The Lord shows Gideon this as encouragement and as a sign that God is the one who will conquer Israel's enemies.

[Pat Beckner]

I believe that today the Bread of LIfe can also destroy our enemies....that the would be thief of all that we reap can be turned away from our mind by the Bread of Life....The Word

[Pat Beckner]

God showed the enemy that they would lose this battle with the dream about the bread........and as typical to human beings, the man told his friend. No doubt by the time the battle actually came,the rumor had spread throughout the camp. In verse 21 it says they cried out and fled. This is what fear will do to us if we let it. God help me to not sew words of discouragement to my bretheren. Today we should be praying that God will give a dream and rumor like this to Iraq and also to all those who support evil in this country.

[DEBORAH]

Q6) ONLY GOD CAN INTERPRETEDREAMS ACCURATELY, AND HE DID THIS FOR THE ENEMY AS WELL AS FOR GIDEON, THE BARLEY BREAD SYMBOL OF STRENGTH, WHICH BROUGHT ENCOURAGEMENT AND FEARLESSNESS TO GIDEON.

[Peggie]

The rolling barely loaf represents Gideon's sword. God showed this to Gideon to once again give him the assurance needed.

[Wendy Reid]

The sword of Gidean.

To reaffirm to Gideon, that the Lord will, through Gideons had, defeat the Midianites ans save Israel.

[Darleen Nelson]

The Lord is showing Gideon through the words of an enemy soldier that he will be victorious beause God is fighting with him. John Bevere says in his book "Under Cover" that faith and obedience are the one and Gideon showed his faith in his obedience.

[Elwood C O'Dell]

As I read this I was drawn to the fact that Gideon was fearful. The Lord told him "if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant" (v. 10) and Gideon did just that, he took his servant and went. Then once they were there God did exactly what He promised, "you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp." (vs. 11) God showed them, through the the account of the loaf of barley bread, that victory was assured.

This made me think of the many times in my life that God allowed friends to come alongside of me during trying times. When I was afraid. Then with them there, for support, God showed through His Word and other ways that victory would come and it all depended on Him. Praise His Name for the victory He gives!

[Fina]

The rolling barley loaf means Gideon's sword which reveals the sure victory of Gideon against the Medianites.

The Lord shows Gideon this dream to remove any fear in his heart, to boost his faith and confidence - that victory is surely is at hand.

Good evening and Peace to all.

[Chris]

The rolling barley loaf in the Midianites dream refers to Gideon's army proceeding to Midian and finally having victory over the Midianites.

God's reason for allowing Gideon to overhear the conversation was as a final reassurance to him and also to encourage him to have the confidence and faith in Him to carry out His will and to know that he would have victory over the Midianites even with 300 men.

[Helen Williams]

Rolling Barley Loaf: This shows that the small loaf strikes and callapses a tent many times it size. God would give the larger army(midianites) to the smaller(Gideon).

God shows Gideon this to calm his fears and give him encouragement.

This is a lesson for us today. The impossible, not so clear task, the fears, and the lack of encouragement can be conquered through God.

WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGHTEN US. GOD GRANT US THE POWER TO MOVE INSPITE OF ALL THAT STAND BEFORE US.
IN JESUS NAME
AMEN

[Vickie]

Barley was not as well-liked or as expensive as wheat in those days. So, the idea of a tiny loaf of bread made from barley striking a tent 100 times its size and collapsing it was significant to the Midianites and Amalekites. They realized the barley represented the small number of Israeli soldiers who would come against them and strike them down. Even if God had not sent away the 31,700 soldiers, the army of Israel would still have been incredibly outnumbered (ref. Judges 7:12)

And, don't you know that God gave this dream and its interpretation to the Midianites so that their confidence would be shaken? Don't you just love how He uses even our enemies? PRAISE GOD!

[mindy]

I wonder how this relates to Jesus feeding the five thousand with five barley loaves?

[photobug]

The Barley loaf was Giddens sword. this dream was to incourge gidden to go forth and come out a winner

[DebChats]

The rolling barley loaf is a "symbol" of Gideon and his sword and the capturing of the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the others.

God does this so that Gideon is encouraged. Gideon sees many enemies and his own army is very small in comparison. God wants Gideon to know He is with him.

[Linda Stanley]

Pastor Ralph, on Jan 24 2003, 09:25 AM, said:

Q6. What does the rolling barley loaf mean in the Midianite's dream? Why does the Lord show Gideon this dream? (7:13-14) See Exposition

Wow!what a dream.Could you just see a round lump of bread that looked like a wheel tumbling down a hill,hit one of the enemies tents and collapses it.When Gideon the man telling the dream to his friend,then heard the responce from the other person saying"This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash,the Israelite.God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.WhenGideon heard the dream and interpretation,he Worshiped God.Gideon fell to his face or prostrate to the ground.This dream sent from God incouraged Gideon.
So many times in my life God has done things for me,I pray I never forget to thank Him.Thank you Heavenly Father for standing beside me,and being all around me,being able to do nothing without you.Thank you for leading me and guiding me through situations I have no control over.Thank you for encouraging me to where I can believe in myself to do your will in my life.In Jesus Name Amen

[nelda huffman]

This is the answer the Lord gave Gideon to give him reassurance that the victory was his as long as he did what the Lord has asked of him..
I agree with all the other answers also. God is the one who gives us our strength and I,m sure he did for Gideon and his armies.

[Marjorie Knight]

I feel the dream was to show God's almighty power, and instill fear in the Midianites, and also to encourage
Gideon.