Judges 7:2 (NIV)
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot
deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own
strength has saved me.’
The Medianites were oppressing Israel. Gideon was the one
called by God to put an end to this, but he needed reassurances. Their enemy
was so huge and powerful! With only 32,000 men to fight this uncountable army,
it already looked like a hopeless task. However God sees things differently
than we do and, and He observed: "You have too many men for me to deliver
Midian into their hands." (Judg 7:2a NIV)
Wait a minute! Too many men? We don't have enough! The
more the better, believe me!
But God had a good point: "In order that Israel may
not boast against me that her own strength has saved her." (Judg 7:2b NIV)
It's true that we have the tendency to give credit to the
one who doesn't deserve it. For some reason we always tend to forget God in our
equation.
So all of those who were afraid (Remember the enemy's
army was many times bigger than these 32,000 soldiers!) were sent back home.
It's true that fear paralyzes people, rendering them ineffective! Ask those who
worry all the time!
22,000 men left, and now Gideon had only 10,000 remaining
soldiers. In other words, more than two thirds of the army left in fear! How
can we even win?
However God's math is not quite the same as ours. If He
can multiply 5 loaves of bread to feed 5,000 and 7 loaves to feed 4,000 (See Mat
16: 9-10. Notice that the larger the amount of bread, the fewer people it
fed!), He sure can defeat an endlessly large army with just 10,000 men!
Nonetheless, wouldn't we start shaking in our boots with
such impossible odds?
Still God insists: "There are still too many
men." (Judg 7:4b NIV)
Euh . . . I already lost two thirds of my fearful army,
and I still have too many men?
Who is in charge here? Euh . . . You are!
While Israel's tiny army were at the river, those who
kneeled down to drink were sent home. Only 300 men were left! From the original
army, almost 94% were gone. The odds were not at all in favor of Israel!
Or were they?
Still God's promise stood firm: "With the three
hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your
hands." (Judg 7:7 NIV)
I can imagine doubt rising into Gideon's mind. Wait a
minute . . . 300 against 100,000s . . . God had to reassure him by sending him
to spy in the Midianites' camp, where he heard that this huge army were
trembling in their socks when the name Gideon was even mentioned.
What comes next leads Gideon to complete peace: "he
worshiped God." (Judg 7:15b NIV)
The tools of warfare to be used: trumpets and empty jars.
What good are these against swords and chariots?
Amazingly, "all the Midianites ran, crying out as
they fled." (Judg 7:21b NIV) Then "the men throughout the camp turned
on each other with their swords." (Judg 7:22b)
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says
the Lord Almighty." (Zech 4:6 NIV)
Too often we, too, rely on useless devices. They may be
considered powerful in human terms, but they are truly useless when compared to
the power of God.
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the
riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great
power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty
strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and
authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in
the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph 1:18-21 NIV)
Are you facing trouble? Instead of relying on the
Internet, Facebook and ipods, face these giants in faith, relying solely on
God. Only then will you be completely victorious. And if He asks you to cut
back on certain things, trust Him, as he knows what is best for all of us.
Dear Lord, We pray that we would rely completely on You
for everything. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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