Neville Goddard on Judges 8:1-9 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Judges 8 in context

Scripture Focus

1And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

2And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

5And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

7And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

8And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

Judges 8:1-9

Biblical Context

Judges 8:1-9 shows Gideon navigating Ephraim's rebuke, acknowledging others' strength, and continuing his pursuit of the Midianites; he seeks bread from Succoth and Penuel and vows to break down a tower, illustrating perseverance and the cost of leadership.

Neville's Inner Vision

Judges 8:1-9 is a dialogue within your own consciousness. The quarrel with Ephraim mirrors inner states vying for recognition; Gideon’s reply, What have I done in comparison to you? exposes the futility of external comparison. The phrase about Ephraim’s grapes versus Abiezer’s vintage reveals that true value arises from alignment with the Lord within, not rank. God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian signifies that your awareness already holds the power; the rest is the narrative your persistence writes as you remain in alignment. The Jordan march with faint followers embodies your steadfast imagination and feeling, even when supplies seem scarce. The bread to the hungry is the inner nourishment you give your faithful thoughts; refusals from Succoth and Penuel are inner voices of limitation to be dissolved. When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower—this inner promise declares that your final state is already established, and the tower yields to your settled consciousness.

Practice This Now

Imaginative Act: Sit quietly and assume the state 'I am sovereign awareness, delivered.' Revise any sense of lack, and feel the truth as real now; then envision the tower collapsing as your inner state fully awakens.