What can we learn about faith from Gideon's trust in God's plan? Setting the Scene Judges 7 opens with Gideon facing a vast Midianite army. God intentionally trims Israel’s troops from 32,000 to 300 so His power, not human strength, will receive the glory. Verse 7 crystalizes the moment: “Then the LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go, each to his own place.’ ” A Counterintuitive Command • The directive makes no military sense; reducing numbers increases vulnerability. • God’s plan preserves Israel from the temptation to boast (Judges 7:2). • Trusting such a plan requires full confidence in the Lord’s character and promises. Lessons on Faith • Faith submits to God’s strategy even when it clashes with human reasoning. • Faith recognizes that victory flows from divine power, not numerical advantage. • Faith responds with obedience in the present, anticipating God’s future deliverance. • Faith remembers prior assurances; Gideon had already seen the fleece test answered (Judges 6:36-40). Echoes in Other Scriptures • 1 Samuel 14:6—Jonathan affirms, “for the LORD can save by many or by few.” • 2 Chronicles 20:15—“the battle is not yours, but God’s.” • Zechariah 4:6—“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD. • Hebrews 11:32-34 lists Gideon among those “who through faith conquered kingdoms.” Bringing It Home • Believers today live by the same principle: God often chooses unlikely means so His glory shines brightest. • Trust grows by remembering past faithfulness, rehearsing His promises, and moving forward in obedience, even when circumstances appear overwhelming. |
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