10 March | EVERYONE
"And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, “My own hand has saved me.” Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, “Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” Judges 7:2-3
Believing that human beings do not need God is a great mistake. However, this thought seems to nestle in our nature. The first woman, Eve, already succumbed to the temptation to be like God and not need Him. The people of Israel, along the way, often stumbled upon the infamous idea that their strength was sufficient for success.
The purpose of the desert pilgrimage was to teach these proud people to recognize their dependence on divine power. In this text, Gideon was going to confront the Midianites, an ancient people originally from Canaan. Gideon set out for battle leading 32,000 soldiers, but God commanded that those soldiers be tested before leaving. In the first test, 22,000 gave up. Many others backed out in the next one, and finally only three hundred remained.
The reasons why the soldiers were tested were twofold. The first is to prevent the folly of self-sufficiency: “lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’” And, secondly, to select those who were focused on the mission. To kneel calmly to drink, when they should have been focused on the mission, was synonymous with neglect of service.
Three hundred soldiers under God's power and blessing, and with the mission in mind, were enough to meet the enemy and defeat them. When we recognize our dependence on God and allow Him to direct our lives, it does not matter how great the challenges are or how many are on our side. He gives us victory and makes us triumph.
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No trial is insurmountable if you go hand in hand with God. As your life progresses, you will be able to look back on how your trials have allowed you to strengthen your trust in God and fuel your spiritual growth.