Mon, 24 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
2 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.
4 And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
Compared to the enemy he was about to face, Gideon’s 32,000 soldiers seemed quite small. But God has him reduce the numbers by a factor of 100. Eventually, Gideon goes to battle with only 300 men, and wins the victory.
What do we learn from this?
We know that nothing can keep God from accomplishing what He desires. He can win the victory regardless of the size of the opposing force. He could have caused Gideon to win the battle with the 32,000 troops, or with the 10,000. But He finally wins the battle with the 300.
We learn something vital from this. When the odds are somewhat balanced, we take the credit for the victories we achieve. We think the successes we’ve had are due to our own abilities and strengths. We often don’t remember to thank and praise God for these victories but instead claim the glory ourselves.
But if the situation is something so clearly outside of our abilities, we realize the victory can be nothing other than God’s work. When we find success where all rational thought reveals that we should have found nothing but failure, we have to credit God with the victory. And when we realize the victory can not have come from our own abilities but must have come from God, we offer Him the praise and thanks that should.
Where is Christ in this passage?
We should not be surprised by the victories God wins for us. When God is for us, who can be against us?
Consider the greatest victory God has won on behalf of His people. The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to win the victory for us over sin in the improbably way of dying on a cross. He singlehandedly won the battle disarming Satan and all his hosts by hanging on a tree.
What credit can we claim for this salvation purchased for us by Jesus Christ? None. What should we offer in response? All our praise and thanksgiving.
