The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.** Judges 7:7-8 (NIV)**
God likes to use the least of us (thankfully) so that His power will be made most evident and perfect through our weaknesses. Seriously, what can the arm of flesh accomplish for eternity? Just as Gidion and his 300 men could not have had a chance against the myriad of Midianites - who were as countless as the sand on the seashore - in their own strength – but God. When one adds God to the equation, nothing is too hard. This truth keeps the believer from fear and anxiety and the thought that it depends solely upon them. When God calls the vessel, He equips the vessel.
We would also do well to remember that all our “righteous acts” are as filthy rags as they are tainted in selfish ambitions and vain conceits. Yet, God delights to take man and empower him to do things too hard for man to do. This brings God the most glory and us much good. God is looking for faithful vessels - filled with the power of the Holy Spirit - to do His bidding, for His glory and not our own. Think David and Goliath. God’s rightful glory belongs to Him alone as the One Who gives the power gets the glory. And God often chooses to use those vessels that man deems small, weak or useless to demonstrate clearly His powerful work within and through the vessel. Think Esther, Ruth or Naomi. And for others to see that the work was not accomplished by the hand of man, rather His.
In our verses for today, the Midianites (Isreal’s enemy) were as countless as the sands on the seashore. And God chooses to use fearful Gideon who is threshing his wheat in a winepress - out of fear - to keep it from the Midianites. Ironically, the angel of the Lord appears to him calling him a “mighty warrior”. And he seems anything but that. The story is well worth the read, but screaming out to us is this: perhaps as fearful and ill-equipped as we might be – if God bids us to an action for His glory, He supplies all things necessary to complete the task – however small or great it is. He empowers the saint to do His bidding and we need not fear or think it is in our own strength or abilities. He is ever looking for His willing and obedient vessel.
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”** John 14:15-18 (NIV)**