In Judges, chapter seven, verse eleven, God encourages Gideon to alleviate his fear and strengthen his faith. And thou shalt hear what they shall say, the Midianites, or what shall be pronounced by any of them. For though it was the night season, and so not a time for many conversations, as it may be supposed to be the dead of the night. Yet something would be said and heard, which is clear proof of the prescience of God respecting future contingent events: and afterward, shall thine hands be strengthened, and his heart encouraged by what he should hear. To go down into the camp, in a hostile manner, with his three hundred men, after his return to them.
Then Gideon went down with Phurah, his servant; first privately, only they two, leaving his little army on the hill. They came to the outside of the armed men in the host, the sentinels, who were without side the camp and stood completely in armor to guard it. Gideon and his servant came as near to them, still and private as they could, without being discovered. These men might be a part of the outer guards, consisting of fifty men, with one at the head of them, placed for the safety of the army in the night season and to give notice of any approach to them or attempt on them.
In this case, Gideon seems to obey without challenging or pushing back. After all, God didn’t wait for Gideon to make excuses or ask for signs: He simply told him to go if he was afraid. The two men sneak down until they come near the outer guard posts of the Midianite camp. This puts them in a dangerous area; to be discovered would be certain death.
Believers committed to the will of God and faithfully serving Him at times need the encouragement of God. When those times come, we should pray that God will inspire us through His Spirit with faith, hope, and courage.