God’s Odd Battle Plans: Trusting God in All Things by Jennifer Deibelनमुना

Day 4

Weird Weapons

One verse practically jumped off the page and bit Owen on the nose. It read, “And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.”

Owen’s jaw tensed. That was exactly what Haggerty had done to them, just on a smaller scale. His chest burned as he continued to read about how a man named Gideon was tasked with defeating the enemy army. When he read how Gideon begged God for clarification because he was the weakest member of the weakest family in all of Israel, Owen blinked, trying to clear the burning that sprang up behind his eyes. He’d never felt so weak before, and it seemed more and more of his own strength was being stripped from him at every turn. Just like God had dwindled Gideon’s army down to ten thousand from over twenty thousand and, eventually, to just three hundred, Owen’s resources had been stripped down to the bare minimum—including having a novice weave the expertly crafted tweed he’d been contracted to create. And every time Gideon asked God if He was sure, or mentioned how scared he was, God’s reply was, “I will be with you.”

Owen couldn’t hold back the sarcastic laugh when the enemy armies began fighting each other out of confusion. He envisioned himself, Saoirse, and Aileen sneaking up on Haggerty’s camp with lanterns, jugs, and tin whistles. The notion was so utterly ridiculous, the heat of embarrassment flooded his face just thinking about doing such a thing.

Yesterday we looked at how God reduced Gideon’s army to a laughable number, and today we see He equipped them for battle in an equally laughable way—with torches, trumpets, and jugs.

I don’t know about you, but I can relate to Owen’s sentiment. This plan seems downright ridiculous. And yet Gideon doesn’t question it. On the contrary, he gathers up his men, confident in God’s promise that He would bring them victory. Gideon himself is the one who outfits his army with those ridiculous “weapons” and steps out in leadership.

I don’t know about you, but I think I’d react more like Owen than like Gideon.

John’s feet scuffed the ground slightly as they started along the path again. “And I don’t know if ya noticed, but Gideon also had to replace his weapons. When the Good Laird sent the tiny army to fight, what weapons did He send ’em with?”

“Um . . .” Owen’s gaze drifted to the sky as he tried to recall. “Oh, they had torches, jugs, and trumpets.”

“Go díreach!” John cackled. “He sent them into battle without a single sword among the lot. Instead, He sent them to fight with things no one in their right mind would consider takin’ to war.”

Owen looked at his friend from the corner of his eye. John must’ve sensed his continued confusion, because he went on to say, “What are the weapons—if ye will—that you use in yer daily life?”

Owen thought for a moment. “Well . . . I’ve used my shovel to fight off a fox before. Maybe a knife.” He shrugged.

John tsked. “No, no, lad. Think about what yer true enemies are.” He stopped walking again, his brows raised in question and his hands pressed onto his hips. When Owen was slow to answer, John listed off on his fingers, “Starvation, homelessness, sickness.”

Oh, those enemies.

“How would you normally fight off those yokes?” John crossed his arms.

Owen lifted a single shoulder and let it fall. “I suppose by makin’ sure I get the weavin’ done, takin’ good care o’ the flock, and keepin’ a good house so we stay warm and dry.”

A sly smile slid up one side of John’s face as he nodded. “And ye’ve lost a good portion of yer weapons lately, haven’t ya?”

Sighing, Owen scratched his jaw. “By golly, ye’re right.”

They continued walking, each scanning the area around them for any sight of Saoirse as they talked. “And the Laird saw fit to provide ya with Saoirse for a spell to help with that weaving. But if ye’re not careful, you’ll lose her too. . .

“Owen, ya need to take a sober look at yer life and what’s happened in the last few weeks. Then ya need to look even closer to see what other weapons God’s placed at hand fer ya—and they mightn’t seem like weapons ’tall. All that’s left to do, then, is show up and let the Laird fight for ya.”

Read that last line again. “All that’s left to do, then, is show up and let the Laird fight for ya.”

That, my friend, is the key to all of it—this whole faith journey. Our job is to love God, love others, and obey what He asks of us. The real fighting—and winning—lie squarely in His hands.

Pray: Spend some time being honest with yourself about where you’re grasping onto control in your life. Then get honest with God about it. Lay it at His feet and let Him fight for you.