Less Was Best! Gideon - Week 3

An Israeli army revved up and eager to go.  32,000 strong!

But are they really ready?

God tells Gideon to give each soldier the opportunity to leave if they're afraid. (Judges 7:3)

22,000 turn around and go back home. 10,000 remain.

Have you ever felt like you've been left by the multitudes to move forward with the few or even go it alone to complete the task God has called you to?  Well, Gideon lost a large number of soldiers that day to fear; soldiers that he considered a plus in his column to defeat the Midianites. But God's strength and power doesn't need our resources to accomplish His will.  In fact, when Gideon counted the ones who stayed, God said there were still too many!

Too many?  Gideon needed all the help he could get.  Why would God say there are still too many soldiers?  Back up and read Judges 7:2. God did not want Gideon or anybody else to take any credit for the victory He intends to give the Israelites.  God was going to prove His faithfulness and His power again by defeating a large enemy with an unlikely leader and just a very small army. So he told Gideon to send more of the men home. In fact, when all was said and done, Gideon had only 300 men left. The odds quickly went from 4:1 to 450:1. YIKES!

God takes His glory seriously and we should never seek credit for any accomplishments. It always amazes me though as to how we even think we could, but we often do. 

Priscilla Shirer teaches a Biblical principle which says: We would never UNLOCK the door to the Divine's strength without the KEY of weakness. (Gideon study, page 70)

Don't put stock in your resources today. Instead, take stock in the Source of  all strength and power, Jesus Christ. In our weakness, He is strong!  Boast in Christ alone.

If God is for us, then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NKJV)

My Pleasure,
Melanie


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