The Smaller Army

Judges 7:1-4

“1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

God asked Gideon to deliver Israel from the hands of the Midianites.  Gideon naturally thought that he needed an army of thousands to defeat them.  But God had other plans.  God wanted everyone who was involved or witnessed or were told of this victory to give credit to God and to say that there was no way that the Israelites could have won except by God’s hand.

So, God whittled Gideon’s army of thousands down to 300.   

Sometimes we think our resources are too few or too scarce and the task too large.  We complain that we cannot do things or move forward.  But what if it is God’s intention that our resources be few and scarce?   

Gideon developed an ingenious battle plan for his small army of 300.   And Gideon’s army was victorious.

God’s victory is at hand….the task is large….the resources are few…. and He is waiting for our plan.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)