Gideon: By his own admission, his family was the weakest of his tribe, and he was the weakest in his family (Judges 6: 15-16).
Midianites: Big bullies who oppressed the Israelites back in the day.
As the story goes, this little-nobody-Gideon is doing manual labor for his dad (I'm thinking that this might be akin to working at Walmart - not exactly a career - or even a job - that causes anyone to preen), when an angel calls him, "a mighty man of valor" (Judges 6: 12).
Huh? Oh, you mean this other guy, right?
Nope, I'm talkin' to you.
Fast forward and we find this little-nobody-Gideon camping near Israel's oppressors with a team of 32,000. This seems like a lot until Gideon checks out the enemy and finds that there are so many Midianites and their pals, the Amalekites, that no one can count them. They seemed "like locust in abundance and their camels were without number as the sand that is on the seashore." (Judges 7: 12) Gulp.
What does God think about these odds? That 32,000 Israelites is too many, so He tells Gideon to send 22,000 home (personally, I'd have voted to send the enemy home, but hey that's just me). Apparently 22,000 is still too many, because He cuts another 9,700. Gideon is left with 300 men -- against an army like locust in number and with camels that number the sands of the sea.
Seriously, God?
1% - That's all Gideon has left of his too-small-to-start-with army.
And God thinks that it's enough.
Have you ever felt like Gideon? I have. I do. Today. Yesterday. Last week. Last month. Pretty much most of this year, and as I live out life with friends and family, I know I'm not alone. He's taking away things that have been my security and comfort. Things that I have relied on, depended on for my peace, my sanity, even my hope. Some days I look around and I cry out, "when, Lord?! When are You going to DO something here?!"
I don't really want God to take me down to 1%. It doesn't feel good. I don't like feeling weak or needy. I hate this whole pruning thing; but when I look at little-nobody-Gideon and what God did with him and through him (spoiler: the Israelites won a smashing victory), I can't help but wonder - and be excited about - what God plans to do with my 1%.
Midianites: Big bullies who oppressed the Israelites back in the day.
As the story goes, this little-nobody-Gideon is doing manual labor for his dad (I'm thinking that this might be akin to working at Walmart - not exactly a career - or even a job - that causes anyone to preen), when an angel calls him, "a mighty man of valor" (Judges 6: 12).
Huh? Oh, you mean this other guy, right?
Nope, I'm talkin' to you.
Fast forward and we find this little-nobody-Gideon camping near Israel's oppressors with a team of 32,000. This seems like a lot until Gideon checks out the enemy and finds that there are so many Midianites and their pals, the Amalekites, that no one can count them. They seemed "like locust in abundance and their camels were without number as the sand that is on the seashore." (Judges 7: 12) Gulp.
What does God think about these odds? That 32,000 Israelites is too many, so He tells Gideon to send 22,000 home (personally, I'd have voted to send the enemy home, but hey that's just me). Apparently 22,000 is still too many, because He cuts another 9,700. Gideon is left with 300 men -- against an army like locust in number and with camels that number the sands of the sea.
Seriously, God?
1% - That's all Gideon has left of his too-small-to-start-with army.
And God thinks that it's enough.
Have you ever felt like Gideon? I have. I do. Today. Yesterday. Last week. Last month. Pretty much most of this year, and as I live out life with friends and family, I know I'm not alone. He's taking away things that have been my security and comfort. Things that I have relied on, depended on for my peace, my sanity, even my hope. Some days I look around and I cry out, "when, Lord?! When are You going to DO something here?!"
I don't really want God to take me down to 1%. It doesn't feel good. I don't like feeling weak or needy. I hate this whole pruning thing; but when I look at little-nobody-Gideon and what God did with him and through him (spoiler: the Israelites won a smashing victory), I can't help but wonder - and be excited about - what God plans to do with my 1%.
God is SO amazing! I hope you find out His blessing for you through this sooner than later!
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