Year of the Bible: Part Five of Twelve ናሙና

To Rely or Not to Rely

Gideon and his band of warriors actually felt prepared to take down a familiar bully in the Midianites. However, Gideon was overconfident in his strategy and their overall potential to take them out. God knew the pride of their hearts and lack of dependence on Him. So, He intervened and used this moment to humble them and to display His might. It’s important to note that prior to all this, the Israelites were acting out of line and against God. Therefore, the Lord allowed the Midianites to oppress the Israelites for a purpose. Noting this idea, we can tell this situation is not primarily about the Midianites’ bully behavior but rather the Israelites’ reliance on God.

Gideon and his warriors had the strategic advantage by battle position only and were vastly outnumbered by the Midianites and their allies. Just when Gideon thought he was prepared for battle, God showed up. God asked Gideon to reduce his warriors down to the ones who were ready to persevere. He did this to display His might by overcoming the vast army of the Midianites with just 300 hundred faithful warriors. This move was very intentional because God knew that if He handed the Midianites over to the Israelites, they would boast victory in their own ability. Certainly, this would dilute their faith and reliance on God.

God knew Gideon was a little frazzled and needed to be encouraged. He showed Gideon how to get a little insight from the enemy. When Gideon discovered the enemy’s perspective, his faith was refreshed, and he relied on God’s ability to overcome the Midianites. As the leader of the remaining warriors, Gideon asked them to follow him and do as he did. Not once did they swing a sword, but by faith they vouched for the glory of God and His strength. This act of worship clearly shows that Gideon and his band of warriors were reliant on God and submitted their faith to Him.

Today, Jesus provides all the insight we need as we battle our circumstances and go on with our daily matters. We must remember that even when we feel like our faith is unshakable, we are still dependent on Jesus. Jesus told his disciples—and in so many ways, tells us—to follow Him. To develop our faith, Jesus also tells us “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NASB) This is not to say that Jesus thinks we are worthless and incapable but instead it points out how dependent we are on Him and how willing He is to support us lovingly.

Question: When thing go from bad to worse, what are some ways you can find God's perspective on the situation?
Prayer Focus: Thank the Lord for being everything you need and for showing up even when you are not aware. Ask Him for insight on how to rely on Him more in every situation.

Go Deeper: When God asked Gideon to reduce the number of warriors, He wasn’t condemning anyone who was excused. On the contrary, He was revealing their perspective and intention for war. The first 22,000 that were released by a military policy were not emotionally or physically equipped. However, the difference between the ones who drank from the river was how they prioritized God’s purpose over self-comfort. The ones who drank directly from the river on their knees were in a vulnerable position and indulged in drinking as much as they could. On the other hand, the ones who slurped from their cupped hands were just drinking what was necessary and were ready to battle. Hopefully, we can be content with what is necessary and willing to rely on the Lord in any battle.