If Gideon is an unlikely leader, his victory over Midian is an even more unlikely victory. Any fool can see that an army of 32,000 is better than a band of 300, especially one armed with empty jars, candles and trumpets. Some may be tempted to wonder if the truth is being stretched just a bit here.
But reading about Gideon’s victory, I’m reminded of other wars and other stories where the battle turned on the most unlikely events and the outgunned underdogs won the day. (It’s too complicated to detail here, but remind me to tell you sometime about the turning point in the battle on Little Round Top at Gettysburg.) Hearing those tales, we’re tempted to call them miracles, and maybe they were.
A couple of centuries later another young man named Jonathan attacked the enemies of Israel with only his armor bearer, just the two of them against far superior numbers. Explaining his “military strategy,” Jonathan captured the lesson Gideon learned that night in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few (1 Samuel 14: 6). To which his armor bearer replied (loosely translated here), then I’m good to go, with you heart and soul. Let’s go kick their backsides. And they did.
The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.
Remember that the next time you’re outnumbered.
- Paul Abbott
Wow, "remember the next time you are outnumbered" often this feels like everyday out here in our marketplace. From the media, social issues, government mandates, finance, on and on we are surround and outnumbered. Yet our God is a mighty God who lives and reigns forever. When I am feeling overwhelmed and outnumbered, I find peace, strength and reassurance in His word.
ReplyDeleteThis daily discipline of doing the "One80" has supported this. And i need all the support I can find these days. I appreciate the blogs and feedback.