It is not obvious to us today how he can know what the dream means. How can he link the cake of bread with Gideon? How does he know Gideon’s name? Why does the tent represent Midian? Why does he interpret the dream negatively from the Midianite point of view? Why could the cake not represent the Midianite forces; and the smashed tent, the Israelite camp?
1 Regardless, the Lord is at work here, demoralizing Israel’s enemies, and at the same time encouraging Gideon.
14 And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.”