Doing the Impossible

Long ago the Lord instructed Gideon to go to battle against the Midianites, and so Gideon called for men to join the army of Israel. Many came, but to Gideon’s surprise the Lord told him there were too many. If such a large army went against the Midianites, the people would think they had won the war and God wanted them to know that it was by His hand the war would be won. So He instructed Gideon to send all those who were afraid back to their homes. Relieved by the announcement, 22,000 men returned home leaving 10,000 to fight the battle.

You can imagine that Gideon was a little worried. The Midianites and their allies were as numerous as grasshoppers and their camels were more than the sands of the sea, and he was to fight them with only 10,000 men? But the Lord spoke again to Gideon saying there were still too many soldiers.

This time the Lord instructed Gideon to take the men to the water to drink. Most of the men got down on their hands and knees and put their mouths into the water. With their faces down and close to the water they were vulnerable and unaware of any approaching enemy. But three-hundred of the men gathered water into their cupped hands and brought the water to their mouths thus staying upright and alert to any danger.

At this point the Lord told Gideon to send the 9,700 men home and to fight the battle with the 300 that stayed alert. I can’t imagine what Gideon felt as he realized he was to fight the vast army of Midianites with only 300 men.

But the Lord continued to instruct Gideon as to how he was to win this battle. He equipped each man with a trumpet, a clay pitcher, and a lamp within each pitcher. Then he divided the men into three groups and in the middle of the night the three groups surrounded the Midianite camp and at Gideon’s signal blew their trumpets, broke their pitchers so the lamps shined in the dark and shouted, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon” (Judges 7:20).

Awakened by the noise the Midianites grabbed their swords and in the dark began to fight each other! Those not killed ran in panic leaving Gideon’s 300 soldiers to claim victory.

I love this story for many reasons, one reason is it teaches me that even when things look absolutely impossible, if the Lord is with me I will succeed. Another reason is that when tasks before me seem impossible, I need to move forward with courage because the Lord is wanting to show me that He is there helping.