Today’s Reading : Judges 7-8; Luke 22
If only I had $X, I would be able to do a lot of things.
If I could only get this degree, then I would be able to …
If only, I had this job or career, things would be different.
We often look at our circumstances and deficiencies in the midst of struggles. But we forget that God has a process and a plan in place for His glory to shine in the most unlikely places. This is evident in the story of Gideon.
In the beginning, Gideon was not a believer. Gideon’s father and family decided to worship a different religion and gods. Gideon had his doubts. God sent an angel to talk to Gideon and let him know that he was the selected person to save Israel.
”Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.“
Judges 6:36-38 ESV
”Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.“
Judges 6:39-40 ESV
Not only did he ask for a sign, Gideon ask for an assurance of the sign. Once he received it, he was all in. How many times do we ask for assurance and continue to ask for reinforcements? We have to be able to listen and be confident in the answer.
But to understand the thesis question, “How much do you need?” We have to look at the next passage.
”The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.“
”And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.“
Judges 7:4, 7-8 ESV
The army went from 33,000 to 300. This is essentially 0.9% of the army. The full army would have been still a diminutive amount compared to the armies of the Midianites and Amalekites which is compared to the sands of a beach. The size of the opposing army to Gideon is an unfathomable amount of people. These are uber extreme odds. But God created this situation to show His power and glory through the small things.
He shows that if we put forth the 0.9% of faith, he will bring the 99.1% to gain the victory.
Where are the areas in our life that we are trying to do the 99%, but God is asking for us to have the 0.9% of faith to all his glory to shine?
How much do we need?
Be blessed