May 24, 2017

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself.’ – Judges 7:2

Gideon started with 32,000 fighting men.

32,000 men and God said it’s too many. Against men who numbered like a swarm of locusts, with camels too many to count. In other words, Gideon was exceedingly outnumbered. So God began to reduce Gideon. To get him down to the point of absolute impossibility. Reducing Gideon’s army left plenty of room for God’s glory, and left no bragging rights for man to claim.

And in Gideon’s story, I hear God speaking truth to a lie that has been sown into the earth.

It’s the lie that keeps us pulling up our bootstraps. Counting our 32,000 somethings and wondering if it will be enough. Gearing up to go out and face what is amassed against us. It keeps us striving and never resting and never really knowing that God is for us. That He will show up on our behalf. That He will help us because we can’t help ourselves.

So God took Gideon’s army down to an impossible number. Because God doesn’t need our 32,000 anythings.

Have you been counting on your own strength, determination, and grit to get through? Have you considered your talents and know-how to be enough to get the job done?

Is there an “I did it myself” in your heart?

Do not be surprised, Beloved, when your strength begins to wane. When determination isn’t enough anymore. When your own abilities are no longer sufficient. When helping yourself only leaves you helpless.