This morning I read out of Judges. Gideon is preparing the Israelites for battle against the armies of Midian. Apparently, Israel has so many warriors ready to fight that it did not appear that it was going to be much of a fight at all. Israel had all of the soldiers they needed to take out this army. At first glance it seems like there is no problem. This isn't going to be much of a story at all. Israel shows up with Big army and wipes out lesser army. No big deal. But then God makes it more interesting.
In Judges 7:2-3 God says, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid my leave and go home."
This significantly lessened the Israel army, but it wasn't enough. 22 thousand went home. 10 thousand stayed. But it wasn't enough. In fact, God took the army down to 300. Then God said to Gideon, "With these three hundred men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites."
Here is the lesson for me in this. God wants me to depend on his strength and power not mine. He wants me to trust him more than I trust myself. In fact, He is way more interested in developing this area of my life than he is about my comfort. Why? Because when we trust God in seemingly impossible situations and His power comes through He gets the attention. He gets the praise. He gets the worship.
I needed this this morning. It is a reminder that in seemingly difficult times God is still at work, He is still on the throne, and he can still be trusted. Are you trusting in God's great power in your life today?
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