"Are You Kidding Me"

One of the best stories of God’s strength and desire for Glory is in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. First Moses had died and the Lord had given leadership to Joshua. Joshua captured in the Lord’s power many of the new territories in the Promised Land. After Joshua died there were rulers that God brought up to help lead the Israelites. Some did well in the eyes of the Lord and some sinned greatly. Then Gideon comes along and God picks Gideon to lead the Israelites.

Ok, now to the good part. Gideon is called to gather his fighting men and go up against the Midianites. So here is the score, Gideon and his army are 33,000 fighting men. The Midianite Army which he is to fight has 135,000 men. Now I don’t know about you but this doesn’t seem like a fair fight. But God goes one step further to make sure everyone knows who is going to win this battle and it is not Gideon or the Midianites.

Judges 7:2,3 “The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.”

The movies have it all wrong. Every time a deadly mission comes up everyone steps forward. Now out of 33,000 men22,000 men take a step back and run home. I would be yelling, “I didn’t mean it, you can hang out in the back and catch those who may get through our lines.”

But the above verse says that this is what God desires and it still pertains to us today

“In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,”

OK 22,000 men against 135,000. Bad but maybe God will help us fight. But Oh No, God really wants to get a point across that He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. That there is no other God before or after and that he is the “I Am”. So here comes the death blow.

Judges 4:7-8 “But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.”

Ok 300 against 135,000. YIKES!!!!!!!! I might be thinking that I should have been one of the first 22,00 to leave. But God ALWAYS desires to come through for you, me and countless of other generations that trust in Him and Him alone. Now there is no way that 300 are going to defeat 135,000 UNLESS God comes through.

Today you may feel like you are outnumbered the same way. You have taken a stand and everyone in the office is against you. You may have Stage 1V cancer and only a miracle will save you. You may be in a tough marriage and so many things have happened that you see no way to reconcile. But let me tell you that this is where God does His best work. That is because

“In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,”

If you have not figured it out by now we have no control in this world. We may think we can scheme and work hard to get things done. BUT in the end it is God’s will that WILL prevail. So how is Gideon going to not only survive but win the battle?

Judges 7:19-22 “Gideon and the hundred men with him (the other 200 mean circled the camp) reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon! “While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbat”