Trimming Down So God’s Power Can be Shown

The Israelites were desperate to break free of the Midianites and Amalekites, so they came readily to follow Gideon, although they were greatly outnumbered, in Judges 7:1.  “Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.”

It was a good thing Gideon was sure God was going to give them the victory, because even as much as they were outnumbered, God said they had too many people, in Judges 7:2-3.  “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.”

God was concerned that Israel would think they won because they had such a big army instead of realizing it was God who gave the victory.  He said anyone who was afraid was to go home and because they were so outnumbered, twenty two thousand left immediately, while ten thousand remained.  God said it was still too many, in Judges 7:4-6.  “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.”

Over the years I have met a number of people say that believed that they were going to accomplish God’s purpose because they had a great many Christians with them.  Despite the huge crowds, the marches against abortion made little difference.  When a huge rally resulted in a changed policy, the people bragged that they won because they had so much support, Just as God feared Israel would do.  To prevent them thinking it was their power, God cut the army down, eliminating all but three hundred men so that there would be no question that the victory was completely the result of God’s work.  There was no possible way three hundred could defeat the Midianites when their army greatly outnumbered the thirty two thousand that Gideon started with unless God worked miraculously. 

With the army reduced to three hundred men. God could show his power.  The others were sent home, in Judges 7:7-8.  “And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.  So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.”

Many times we forget that there is only one God, and he still has the same amount of power whether there a million people on his side or only one.  When we are worried about how many are on our side, we are trusting human power, rather than God’s, and he may not act as a result.  Acts 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira being killd for lying about their gifts.  Acts 5:11-15 tells the results of their deaths.  “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” 

Many who might have joined the church were afraid to join after seeing God’s power, but those who did join did so because they had seen his power, making the church much stronger.  Today, many churches are spiritually weak, because the emphasis is on the size of the congregation and what they are doing rather than on God’s power.