God uses the improbable to do the impossible

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.' ...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."  (Judges 7:2,7)

In the story cited above, Gideon had been called to lead the Israelites in rebellion against the Midianites who had been sorely oppressing them. After some, shall we say, negotiations (see Judges 6) Gideon had agreed to take up this monumental task. He did what any good general would do. He  gathered his troops together to go against the Midianites.

In total, Gideon mustered 32,000 men to go to battle against a force that numbered over 130,000, and had held Israel captive seven years. I have to assume that Gideon had great doubts, taking a small, untrained force up against a larger band of well-trained raiders that rode camels. Then God enters the equation, and he wants to make a point. Even though Gideon's force is already smaller, if numbers are close, it might be able to claim success by "my own hand...". God whittles down Gideon's force to the point where there can be no question from where -- or better by whom -- the victory comes. Gideon goes against the Midianites with 300 men, and the victory is won.

God has a way of using improbable people and groups to do great things. He does this to prove that it is him, not his human agents who has done the great work. Let's face it, if it is possible for us to do it on our own, we will take credit and forget that we need God. Gideon defeated the Midianite army of 130,000 with three men. Yes, others joined the fight as the victory was being won, but he went out with 300.

When faced with impossible situations, we need to always remember that our "we" is bigger than just the group of people around us. We need to remember that our "we" includes a God that loves us and wants to use us for the expansion of his kingdom. We need to remember that, if God is with us there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. Then we need to remember to give him the glory for the victory.

Let us move forward to do great things with God at the head. He will give us what we need to win the battle, especially when victory seems impossible.