Living Words of Encouragement

It’s Not In The Numbers

Read Judges 6:33-7:8

Gideon (personal name was Jerubbaal—Jer ub ba al) was the fifth major judge of twelfth century Israel, where he judged for forty years. Gideon was given the task of delivering the Israelites from the Midianites and Amalekites, desert nomads who repeatedly raided the country. The Midianites and Amalekites were able to raid the countryside because they had camels that allowed them to ride in and destroy crops, take plunder, and then escape back into the desert with such speed the Israelites could not catch them. These people needed to be stopped however; Gideon was not a willing volunteer for the Lord’s work. He knew what God wanted him to do, yet twice he laid out the fleece in an effort to avoid the will of God by imposing impossible conditions. We see God met his conditions both times and then set out the strategy that would guarantee victory for Israel.

In verse 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands, in order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.”

One minute we are saying God will supply all our needs, and then the next minute because it has not happened, we begin to doubt. We want to do something or go somewhere, but we don’t have enough people to make the move, do we stand on God’s promises or do we doubt?

Do we really believe that God will come through for us, eventhough, we can’t see it? Do we forget that this is a spiritual relationship that we have with our father, and too many times we get caught up in the natural? Many times we look at the numbers; we are in the natural looking just as Gideon did. Gideon thought that he needed 32,000 men for battle against the Medianites & Amelikites. However, we see God told Gideon if you have too large an amount you may get caught up thinking that the victory is yours, or based on something you have done and not what God has done.

When God told Gideon in verse 3 that if any trembled let them go back. God was saying that sometimes you can have many people that really don’t want to do the Lord’s work, when the task gets heavy they get to running. God was saying let them go back so they don’t demoralize those who are committed.

Gideon had to have faith as Hebrew 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.” Gideon had to trust God and believe that he didn’t need the 32,000 for battle.

What we must always remember is that as long as we are doing the will of God, trusting in Him, and standing on His promises, He will do whatever He said He would do. Don’t be concerned that people don’t stand with you or that they make commitments and don’t follow through. If God’s hand is upon it, it is blessed and will continue on with just a few.

Remember to trust in God and don’t be concerned with the numbers.

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