Judges 6:14 - And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
Remember learning about Gideon in Sunday School? He is the man who defeated an entire army with only 300 soldiers. And they weren't trained soldiers at that but just everyday farmers who were desperate for a victory. You might also remember that Gideon was terrified of his enemies. He was threshing wheat at night to feed his family, too afraid of what the enemy would do to him if he was caught.The angel of the Lord appeared to him and declared, "hail, thou mighty man of valor."
What? I can just see Gideon looking around for someone else. But no, the angel was talking to him. Gideon, who was afraid of his own shadow, was commanded by God to go and lead an army against his enemies. He questioned the orders. If your are really from God then wait until I bring you something to eat. He quickly prepared a meal and brought it to the "man." But the angel told him to lay it out on a rock. When Gideon did so the angel touched it with his staff and it burst into flame as an offering unto God. When the man vanished Gideon realized he had been talking to an angel. After such a miraculous demonstration who wouldn't be ready to fight an army? Not Gideon. He was still afraid.
He questioned God again. If I put a piece of wool on the ground let it be wet with dew but let the ground be dry. It happened. The next day he asked the opposite. Let the ground be wet and the wool be dry. The Lord honored his request. Now the Lord was ready for Gideon to do something. The Lord had already spoken to him (after the angel's visit) to go in "this thy might." Seems strange doesn't it. The man who required three signs from God before he would obey was called a man of valor (courage) and told to go in his might (strength). But God sees differently than we do.
You see, God had already put the strength in Gideon to do what he was called to do. It wasn't in Gideon's nature (or so he thought) to lead an army. But something supernatural happened to Gideon when God spoke to him. The word of the Lord was sufficient to be Gideon's might and courage. All he had to do was obey. God had the rest in control.
So Gideon gathers an army of 32,000 men to go against several hundred thousand. Seems pretty brave, right? Wrong! God told him to send all the men who were afraid back home. 22,000 went home. So God, I am going to defeat an army this size with 10,000 men? Wrong again. While the men are down at a river drinking water God tells him to pick all the men who lap water like a dog and set them aside. All the rest can go home. He now has just 300 men. Seems like suicide. But it doesn't matter. This wasn't Gideon's battle anyway. God had it in control.
Now is Gideon ready to fight? Not quite. He is still afraid. So God tells him to sneak into camp and listen to what his enemies are saying. The first tent he comes to, he hears a big surprise. A man is telling his neighbor about a dream. "I dreamed a loaf of bread rolled into the camp and flattened us all." His friend knows the meaning. "It is Gideon because his God has delivered all of Midian into his hand." Now Gideon is finally convinced that God is for them.
He returns and tells the men to surround the camp. They each have a pitcher with a lamp inside and a horn. They blow the horns and hold up the pitchers shouting, "The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon." And what happens next? They really don't even have to fight. The Midianties are so frightened they began to turn and fight against each other. Mass chaos breaks out in the camp. The enemy flees before him. All Gideon and his men have to do is come along and pick up the spoils.
You see, God had the end in mind from the beginning. Gideon could have gone at the first word but he needed convincing. I don't think he really doubted God. He doubted himself. And the Lord knew that. That's why He gave Gideon so many signs. But Gideon didn't have to doubt. God had already put the abilities he needed inside of him to perform the task. We don't see his men questioning him. They gladly went along. Nothing short of a miracle. He was a natural born leader and didn't know it.
What about you today? Is there something you are fearful of? Has God spoken to you about doing something for him? You have doubts right? It's only natural. But our God is a supernatural God. If he has spoken to you, He has already given you all you need to fulfill the task. You must believe not only in him but in yourself. He knew what he was doing when he called you. He knew you were the one for the job. He doesn't make mistakes. You need to believe in yourself. If you can't do that, just trust God. He has it all in control. There is a victory just over the horizon with your name on it. So Gideon, go in "thy might" without fear. God has given you your enemies.
Trusting him daily,
Sullivan Jones
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