Love That Never Fails

45. The Lord is my Strength

When coming up against any sort of opposition, most of us would agree that there is strength in numbers but this is not the way our Lord works! Gideon had already shown signs of doubt and fear at the thought of coming against the Midianites but he must have taken comfort in the fact that at least he had a decent sized army of 32,000 men behind him! However, God didn't want them to do anything in their own strength and no doubt surprised Gideon with the strategies He had for this battle!

"Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me.' Now announce to the army, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

But the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."

So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink." Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 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 others go home.""
‭‭Judges‬ ‭7:1-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a reduction in numbers! It was evident that God's strategy was not a 'strength in numbers' way, He wanted the remaining men to operate in His strength! With just 300 men, God was going to demonstrate just how powerful He was! Imagine how Gideon was feeling at this point! I love the way that God showed His love and compassion for the big step of faith that was ahead for Gideon, by giving him a glimpse of the victory ahead:

"So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. During that night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp."

So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.""
‭‭Judges‬ ‭7:8-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Imagine Gideon's excitement upon hearing this interpretation! Notice that before he led his men to victory, he first bowed down to worship God. We can do the same and confidently thank and praise God before we face whatever enemy or obstacle that is before us.

"Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the Lord and for Gideon.' ""
‭‭Judges‬ ‭7:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It's great to see Gideon transformed into a powerful leader as he operated in the Lord's strength!

"Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath."
‭‭Judges‬ ‭7:19-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What an unexpected victory! What looked mathematically impossible, was certainly not too hard for God! Are you faced with a mighty problem that seems just too much for you at this time? Let God be your strength and move forward with confidence as Gideon did, praising and worshipping Him ahead of time!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this encouraging account of how powerful You are! I want to trust You just as Gideon did as he finally went into battle with such a small group of men. Help me to remember that strength isn't about numbers but about putting my trust in You! I declare that Your strength is all I need for whatever I am facing today!

"The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, I will praise You and worship You ahead of every battle I face, for I put my trust in You, knowing that You will bring the victory!

The Lord is my strength,
Amen.