They would see nothing but inconsistency and confusion. They would start back with determined protest and resistance. They would have held long controversies to show the inconsistency and the dangers that would accompany the carrying on of the warfare in such an extreme way and in their finite judgment they would pronounce all such movements as utterly ridiculous and unreasonable. How scientific, how inconsistent, would they have thought the movements of Joshua and his army at the taking of Jericho? In the story that we're looking at, one of the main themes is unity and this is brought out in the story from verse 23 onward of Judges 7 and we're going to look at that at this time. And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali and out of Asher and out of Manasseh and pursued after the Midianites. And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim saying, Come down against the Midianites and take before them the waters of Bethpara and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together and took the waters unto Bethpara and Jordan. And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeb, and they slew Oreb upon the rock of Oreb and Zeb. They slew the winepress of Zeb and pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gideon on the other side of Jordan. And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus that thou callest us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply and he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Have I made the cleanings of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezar? God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeb, and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that. Judges 7.23-8.3. Gideon has just been the champion of the Lord and Ephraim comes into the battle late and throws a rebuke at him and Gideon has the humility to give a soft answer and turns away the wrath. But this jealousy of Ephraim is a theme that continues to be used in Bible prophecy and in the spirit of prophecy to emphasize the unity that comes into God's work at the end. And remember Gideon's battle is describing the loud cry, the final warning message to the world and there is a unity that must take place and it's this attitude of Ephraim that is prophetically used to describe this unity. Early writings page 74, speaking of unity, says this.