Thirty-two thousand Israelis against 135,000 Midianites. That sounds like an impossible situation. Yet God wanted to strip Gideon's army down to an incredibly low minimum so that the Israelis could not boast of their own success. Gideon's final three hundred did almost nothing except stand and shout. But God gave them the victory. Sometimes today God strips us of everything we think we must have to work for him. Or it may be a friend whom we think we can depend on. It may be a pastor who has meant so much in our spiritual lives. It may be a church which has become our support team. It could be employment or even a bank account. Why does God allow this? His plan, his desire is that we should be wholly dependent on him and not on any human prop. It is quite true that we all need fellowship. God encourages us to practice it. But when we become too dependent on even fellowship, God may move us on. He wants us to finally and totally rely on him. What did Gideon do to win the victory that night? Very little, except he simply allowed God to control the circumstances. God loves to show what he can do. There is nothing he cannot do. And when we have his word, and his promise, we can trust him to do it. Even Gideon's shout recognised that the battle was the Lord's. What did he tell the men to shout? 'For the Lord and for Gideon.' He recognised that God came first and gave God the glory for all that took place that night. Faith lays hold of God's promises and counts on God's power. Faith is not afraid of apparent difficulties nor the calculations of unbelievers. Faith looks to God alone. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith' (1 John 5:4). YOU CAN BE TOO BIG FOR GOD TO USE, BUT YOU CANNOT BE TOO SMALL. |
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