An Unlikely Army

Have you ever felt totally outnumbered? It’s as if there is no way you could ever get out of the situation you’re in because you’re in way too far over your head? Sometimes that’s exactly where God wants you.

In Judges 7:1-15, that’s just where Gideon was. He had 32,000 men at his side, and he was going up against the Midian army which was “thick like locusts.” “Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.” (Jdg 7:12b) Imagine only 32,000 men against this army that could not be counted… Now, imagine only 300 men against this huge army. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the Israelites would boast that they saved themselves in their own strength if God allowed them to defeat Midian with 32,000 men. So, God whittled down Gideon’s army. First, He told Gideon that if any man was afraid, he should leave. About two-thirds, or 22,000 men confessed that they were afraid and went home, leaving 10,000 of the most courageous men to take on this army that was too large to count. But again, God knew that Gideon’s army was still too large and would boast in themselves. So, once again God whittled down Gideon’s army by checking out how they drank their water. Did they lap it like a dog, or did they kneel? The kneeler’s went home and the dog lappers stayed. The 300 men who lapped their water like a dog was the army that Gideon would use to defeat this army that was too large to count. It would be the “dog lappers” versus the “camel locusts”! Now that’s enough to scare anybody!

And that’s exactly where Gideon was again – afraid. Only he couldn’t go home like the rest of his army. But God knew Gideon’s fears and He knew Gideon needed encouragement in order to attack Midian. So God sent Gideon and his servant into the outpost of the enemy camp to listen to what they were saying. Gideon got up to a tent just as a man was saying how he had a dream that a big round loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp and forcefully struck and overturned a tent. Now whether his friend was serious or sarcastic, he responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” (Jdg 7:14) This was all Gideon needed to hear. He worshiped God for the encouragement he was given and then he went back to his camp to round up his army.

So let’s bring this home and see how it applies in our lives. Are you still feeling outnumbered and over your head? That’s good! That’s where God can get the most glory, and you’ll be less likely to boast and take the glory for yourself. Has God shown Himself to you or given you a promise but you still need encouragement not to fear? Ask God for encouragement. He’ll send someone your way who has just the right word at just the right time. But make sure you’re on the lookout for His encouragement. If you’re not, you just might miss it and then you’ll forget the import response to God’s encouragement, which is worship of God! He is worthy of your worship and your praise!

These verses are all about an army that was so unlikely to succeed. It didn’t have any business trying to defeat the huge army it was up against. But, my friend, this is where God does His best work in us. What is He asking you to do that seems impossible? You may be an army of 1 or of 3 or even 300 doing God’s will. You’re task may be scary and daunting and you may not see a way out. But that is when God will give you the encouragement you need to follow through. And when you have gone through and have come out on the other side, you will worship God and give Him all the glory, because that is what He deserves from His unlikely army.


 
*All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.