Gideon was leading a seemingly suicide mission. The odds against him were astronomical. The tactics were unconventional and daring. The attack was to be under cover of darkness, always a difficult setting to coordinate military movements. The chances of something going awry were huge. The danger was palpable.
In such a crucial moment, Gideon gave the classic leadership command: do as I do. His troops had never fought a battle in this manner. They had no experience. They had to relay entirely upon their leader. Had Gideon sent his troops forward without him, they might have taken matters into their own hands and been defeated. In the darkness, it would have been easy for the troops to default to the military techniques they were accustomed to using.
But nothing could be left to chance. So Gideon remained with his forces. He modeled for them the exact behavior he wanted to see them use. To ask for such daring behavior from his men, Gideon had to be willing to stand with them on the front lines. If Gideon had not been confident in God’s provision, then his soldiers’ faith would certainly have wavered.
“Do as I do” are some of the most powerful words a leader can ever say.