Discover His Heart: He gives supernatural help when needed, tools included!
There is a cat of the tuxedo variety, silky black and white, in my neighborhood that frequents my backyard looking for his next meal. No, I don’t feed him, but I have a feeling that some of the birds and critters in my yard have kept him well fed. The other day I watched him spy a lone bird snatching up seeds on the ground below the feeder. The cat got down on his back haunches, lowered his chin to the ground and slid along the grass like a stealth bomber under the radar.
As I observed, I stood ready to cause a distraction for the bird, but I’m ashamed to admit that I waited to see what would happen in this covert situation. Well, my interception was not needed – black cat on green grass, crunching blades of grass approaching – that bird was outta there! Whether in the animal kingdom or in human confrontation, there’s an art to warfare, and its strategies encompass many techniques. However, few are as unique as those chosen by God and used by Gideon to defeat the Midianites in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
@ Judges 7
“With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.’ So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him.” (7-8) I’ve tried to put myself in Gideon’s place during this discourse with God and wondered if my response would put me in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith like his response did. To go from 32,000 troops down to 300 against the Midianite hordes – not good odds! And the only items they were given to fight this fierce battle were horns, clay jars and torches!
This entire war strategy just doesn’t make sense in the natural, but then Gideon was now operating in the supernatural. Through hindsight, we understand that this small army was able to quietly move into a strategic position surrounding its enemy. The Israelites used what was in their hands; and as their horns, broken jars and shouts echoed through the valley of the Midian camp and their blazing torches encircled the enemy, Midian panic ensued. Without lifting a sword, the enemy was defeated, and with an army of only 300 men, no one questioned who really brought the victory that day. Just like the old song says, Little is much when God is in it.
We are facing battles on many different fronts today, and our enemy will use any strategy he can to stop our progress and bring defeat, including our own thoughts, temptations, habits and fears. Israel was victorious because the troops filled with fear were sent away, and we should send to flight our fears and any other tool the enemy could use.
Today’s troubled economy has left many with very little to work with, but just like Gideon and his 300, with faith and unencumbered by fear, we can use what is in our hands, whatever gifts and tools He has given us, to keep moving forward. When the 300 advanced at God’s command, God performed the supernatural, and He will do the same for you and me!
Moving forward: Today I will use the things that God has put in my hand, perhaps rediscover old things and discover new things. Like Gideon, I will not be stymied by the circumstances that surround me, but trust God to perform the supernatural on my behalf. No one will question who brought the victory – little is much when God is in it!
Tomorrow @ Psalms 18-20
Phyllis Benigas 