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 [M]e 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. 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….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. Judges 7: 2-4, 7, NIV
Lord, we know that Your ways are past finding out. Please reveal Your will to us we pray; in Jesus’ name. Amen
An army of three hundred men is not one that would inspire confidence in most people. Of course it would depend on what kind of battle they were fighting; and, who they were going to fight against. This was a battle against oppression. “The Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples invaded the country” (Judges 6: 3). They had formed a military coalition that made life very difficult for Israel (2-6). Then Israel “cried to the LORD” (7).
In the latter half of our Scripture for today, we saw how God selected the soldiers for this army. A very simple test, but one that revealed their level of responsibility. During their basic training, these men acted as if they were already in battle. They lapped the water with one hand, so that the other hand would be free to wield a weapon! He selected only a few men, “In order that Israel may not boast against [M]e that her own strength has saved her.” This is the third day in a row that we see God bringing glory to Himself, through the actions of human beings. And that is the way it ought to be! We have nothing to glory about. [A]ll our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64: 6). I believe that God knows, if we can only “get it right,” about who should receive honor and glory, we would live better lives; so much more rewarding!
Well, this might be an unusually small army, but I imagine they have some rather sophisticated, and powerful artillery, right? You be the judge. Let us take a look at their war arsenal: a trumpet, and an empty bottle with a torch in it, for each soldier. Oh, and do not forget their shout; it is a part of the package ((7: 20). No, this is not a joke. These are the weapons selected for this warfare; this is what they are going to fight this battle with.
Now, let us take a closer look at the opposing army, “The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore” (12). (Emphasis provided). I have never witnessed a plague of locusts. But from the accounts I have heard, the land could actually be darkened by their overwhelming presence. Have you ever attempted counting the grains of sand on the seashore? This combined army was so large that locusts and sand were the only items adequate enough to compare them with!
Does the description of the scene seem impossible enough to be part of a science fiction movie? Well, welcome to the world of miracles! All God needed was a few men, who were willing to put their lives in His hands, and allow Him to use them, to gain the victory over a seemingly invincible army, and they did (Judges 7: 22-25). Because, “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14: 6).
When you have done all that you can, and you are feeling defeated; take your problem to God and leave it there. Problems cannot exist in the presence of the Problem-solver.