Key Verse: Verse 2 – “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”
The army of the Midianites numbered about one hundred thirty-five thousand (Judges 8:10). There is no military leader today that would want to go into battle with three hundred men facing one hundred thirty-five thousand soldiers. That breaks down to about one facing four hundred fifty men. Sounds a lot like the odds Elijah faced. But the battle was not in man’s hand but in God’s hand, and God’s ways are higher than our ways.
This reminds me of a story I read recently.
The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, “Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us.” The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
Dr. Mike Rouse
What to do:
✞ God is in the miracle business.
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