Peter Huang Posted February 2, 2003 Report Share Posted February 2, 2003 I don't really know. I guess God knew that the number of lappers would be around three hundred, the number acceptable to him and so he instructed Gideon to choose them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Momphard Posted February 2, 2003 Report Share Posted February 2, 2003 What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? I think what linda bass said was what I would have said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luminosa Posted February 2, 2003 Report Share Posted February 2, 2003 The only significance I can see in the lappers and kneelers is that God knew that there would be more kneelers than lappers. I don't see any spiritual significance to this, other than God knowing the lappers would make up the least of the men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Maher Posted February 3, 2003 Report Share Posted February 3, 2003 What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? Based on the commentaries I have had a chance to read, I believe that the lappers were more alert and probably more fearful. Based on this assumption, I think this fits the Lord's plan . . . He wants there to make sure that any victory is seen as the Lord's victory, not man's victory. By choosing those more fearful, this is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 This significance dropped the number of men to where without God there was no way of winning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda biloni Posted February 7, 2003 Report Share Posted February 7, 2003 Someone lapping water with their tongues like a dog, seems to give the impression of an uneducated person, maybe of a lower class, just the type God like to use to do the impossible God had a mission for Gideon and he provided Gideon with what he nedded...encouragement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debs4jc Posted February 8, 2003 Report Share Posted February 8, 2003 What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? I don't see any significance other than it was a handy way for God to seperate the men. Perhaps He prompted those He wanted to choose to lap rather than kneel. He ended up with the number of men He wanted so that the glory of the victory would go to Him. Oh to be one of the few chosen by Him to participate in His victories! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Smith Posted February 10, 2003 Report Share Posted February 10, 2003 I have respected and preferred the New Revised Standard Version since I was introduced to it by Urbana 2000, as it is a good authoritative translation but is also readable. As it attributes drinking from the cupped hands to those who knelt (lay down with faces in the water?) rather than to those who remained alert, I am unable to stake an astute commentary on the manner of drinking. I attended a primary school run by an Episcopal church, and we were taught that the 300 remained vigilant while the others were careless, making poor choices as soldiers. The NRSV eliminates that explanation. I tend to agree with Dr Wilson in saying that the Lord simply divided out 300 men who could witness His miraculous deliverance. I find it more significant that those who knelt "as in worship" were the ones separated out to be sent home, for their worship (that of the Israelites as a whole) had been toward idols rather than the Living God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leo Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 Well, I really don't have a definite answer for this one other than what has already been said but I what I can do is relate this to our modern day lives. God wants us to be prepared and to be alert. We shouldn't be too preoccupied with life that we are like the "kneelers" who seem to be so preoccupied with what they are doing. In the same way, we should go and do whatever we are supposed to do in our lives but we should also keep our heads up in case the devil decides to attack us, especially in our most vulnerable state. We should always be prepared for anything because we have no idea when the devil will decide to try and bring us down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjcollin Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Q5. What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? See Exposition and Footnote 11 The lappers did seem to be more alert than the kneelers. We always need to be on our guard for our adversary is prowling around like a lion. (1 Peter 5:8). They were upward looking even while drinking, while the others in the majority were kneeling and putting their mouths directly to the water. I think it was for the same reason that God paired down the army from 32,000 to 10,000 and now even further to 300. It was to show them that God was still in control and that they needed Faith in Him to deliver the Midianites into their hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeM Posted February 27, 2003 Report Share Posted February 27, 2003 The significance of the lapper and the kneelers. I believe that the lappers were keenly aware of their surroundings, and were ready for battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie Posted March 28, 2003 Report Share Posted March 28, 2003 Gideon Lesson 3 Question 5 What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? The Lord said, If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go, but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you', he shall not go.' I thought about the lappers and the kneelers. And I lean towards 'God delights to work through those too weak to act on their own'. Maybe the lappers are the ones too afraid to kneel down. God knows the real reason. Many times God chooses the most unlikely to be His own. I love Ephesians 1 where God tells us He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Glory He knows even before we are born those who will love Him. Even before the foundation of the world ! Glory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Hatlestad Posted April 3, 2003 Report Share Posted April 3, 2003 the lappers were always aware of their surrounding in case of an emergency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luray mcclung Posted April 18, 2003 Report Share Posted April 18, 2003 After I studied the passages and read the exposition, I looked at the questions and found this one tough. As a child, I grew up seeing my father and my grandmother kneel beside the table and offer prayer and thanksgiving before anyone was allowed to sit down and eat. I grew up knowing that seeking God on our knees was important to my family. Yet, God did not choose the kneelers; he chsose the lappers, 300 of them from thousands. This circumstance was quite different. Everyone was thirsty, we assume. However, God showed me that the kneelers were for a moment or two only concerned for their own physical needs. Momentarily, the kneelers were pleasing themselves, caring for themselves alone, truly inattentive to their surroundings and the mission at hand. Meanwhile, what a marvelous God we have to proceed with such a criteria for His selection of Gideon's army. I hope our students at the Naval Academy and West Point know this Bible truth. lmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liza Posted May 1, 2003 Report Share Posted May 1, 2003 I think the lappers were fewer. 300 lapped out of 10,000. I just believe God wanted to whittle down the army, and that is why He selected the lappers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Woodbridge Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 The kneelers were in a more favorable position to respond to attack from the rear. Lappers would be in a precarious position to respond in a similar situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 I found not so much significance but the "lappers" seem to be watchful and alert soldiers, unafraid, making them confident about their abilities, hence more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 The significance in selecting the lappers from the kneelers are those who are bold from those who are cautious. God needed soliders who were bold and not cautious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatherdills Posted January 22, 2004 Report Share Posted January 22, 2004 The significance in selecting "lappers" from the "kneelers" may be that "lappers" never let their guard down by kneeling close to the water and being distracted like the "kneelers". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelOnLine Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Q5. What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? I think it was just a way to separate the troops. Only God knows the real reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mairead Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 none Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted June 18, 2004 Report Share Posted June 18, 2004 Some think the lappers (from hands) were still watchful and instantaneously ready for action. :H:owever it certainly is not a system man would have devised for selecting soldiers. It demonstrates clearly the superiority of obedience to the commandment over human intelligence! God knows what he has put in each man, and this was His wisdom for segregating them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maria gonzalez Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 It is very interesting to analyze why would God only select the ones that lapped and not the ones that knelt to drink the water. It was a decision made from God to choose the ones who "licked" the water, I often wonder if there was a matter of "heart" issue in it, something God knew about them that the human eye could not see. I sometimes think God touched these men to drink the water the way they did. I know that 300 did lick the water and fought against the Midianites; Did God really touch them to drink water in this way? Did some who were touched by God disobey? I am only sure about the number, the Israelites needed to be outnumbered because God wanted to show the Israelites it was not their own strength that saved them but God himself who had mercy on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randi Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 I believe we as humans are trying to read too much into this. God's ways are not our ways and I believe it was only used for selection purposes of 300 men. The main thing is that the honor and glory was given toGod, not man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyfields Posted July 4, 2005 Report Share Posted July 4, 2005 Good morning To All!! To answer the question the significance from "lappers" and "knealers" i believe that choosing the lappers, they were alert and aware of surroundings and better equipped to jump and leave if called suddenly. knealers werenot as ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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