Quality Over Quatity

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY (JUDGES 7:1-25)

An American was visiting London and after walking around all day he really had to take a leak. Not finding a public restroom, he decided to go down an alley and do his business there. Just as he was starting to unzip a bobby came along and said” Right....what’s going on here?” The man said, “I really have to take a leak, and I couldn't find a public restroom.”

“Come with me,” said the bobby, “I'll show you where you can take a wiz,” leading the man down the street a few yards. They came to a beautiful garden with pretty green grass, lots of flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. Pointing to a bush the bobby said,” here you go do your business right here sir.”

The gentleman looked around and thought ok, if he says so. He unzipped his pants and started to wiz, looking back at the bobby he said, “Is this the usual British hospitality?” “No, sir,” says the bobby, “It's the French embassy.”

Gideon was a very different kind of a leader. He was not called a judge although he was undoubtedly one. In chapter Gideon faced a full-blown national crisis and catastrophe. For the first time the Midianites, the Amalekites and the children of the east – three parties - were assembled and pitched in the valley of Jezreel when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Thereafter Gideon sent messengers to Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali and gathered an army to meet him (Judg 6:33-35). No book in the Bible was the “Spirit of the Lord” (Judg 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 13:25, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14) more revealing and repeated, but the Spirit’s debut in the Bible did not reassure or relax Gideon. The fleece in the last chapter was definite; now the fight will commence.

What transformed a person from weak to strong? How do we conquer our fears? Why is God’s work done not merely with physical resources?

Be Committed and Competent

1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 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.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out 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.” 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 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 others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

Norman Vincent Peale was a young news reporter who happened to meet Henry Ford at a Detroit train station. Peale realized this was a chance of a lifetime and asked Ford if he had any advice for a young man starting out in life.

“Who your best friend, son?” Ford asked. Then before Peale could answer, Ford went on to say, “I l tell you who it is- it the person who brings out the best in you. Always associate with the best people – that where you will find such a person.”

In his later years, Peale reflected, “I convinced that Henry Ford really knew what he was talking about. A best friend is one who tells you, “Yes, you can make your dreams come true. Yes, you have something valuable to offer to the world. Yes, your life can make a difference!”

“And there an opposite side to Henry Ford question, too,” continued Dr. Peale. “It whose best friend are you? Try asking yourself that question from time to time. Then when you answer it, make sure that you deserve that title by bringing out the best in that person, every day, in every way.”