10 March | Teens
«And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. » Judges 7: 9
Israel was being dominated by the Midianites, and the people were crying out for a deliverer. It was in this context that God chose Gideon for this mission. He would face a great challenge: an enemy army of 135,000 soldiers. Gideon initially gathered 32,000 men, which were later reduced to 10,000. Finally, after the great test of drinking water like dogs, only 300 remained.
These 300, equipped with torches and trumpets, surprised the enemy camp at midnight. The shrill sound of the trumpets caused panic among the Midianites, who became very afraid and confused, and attacked each other. Israel's victory was overwhelming, and all of this happened with a considerably smaller army.
It often seems impossible to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. But with God, a little is always a majority! Know that God is not concerned with quantity, but rather with the quality and faith of those who are with Him. He prefers a small group of faithful, courageous people to a large army of people without conviction or trust in Him. God can use any of us, no matter how small or insignificant we feel, to accomplish great things. He helped the people of Israel win a battle with only 300 soldiers. He changed the history of the world with 12 apostles. A few with God make a difference!
Take Action
To understand a little bit what it was like for Gideon to choose his 300 men, try drinking water in a different way: put some water on a plate and try to drink it by licking it like a dog. I guarantee it will be funny! This will help you remember how it wasn't easy for Gideon and his men, but with God, they achieved a great victory.