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One of the things coming out of the Rugby World Cup is the performance of the minnows. They are punching above their weight, and this is largely because they have been building up their skills and getting some more regular competition. The input of overseas coaches, especially NZ’ers who are providing the skill sets is undoubtedly helping their cause.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the strength of the opposition we face, we can feel like it is unwinnable, but we have a God who can overcome any opposition. The journey of faith is a lot about learning to trust this is the case. Gideon had much reason to doubt that God could through him do amazing things.  But he trusted God and with 300 warriors was able to overcome the odds.

How much do we trust God?

Judges 7 vs. 2-8  –  Gideon’s 300 Warriors

 

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight

The Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

And that is not what I want; I want them to return to me, not to place me out of their sight

To think that they can be disobedient and not face consequences, from sin they need to relent

For I am Sovereign LORD, not to be disdained, ignored, they must learn to do what is right

Their boast should not be in what they can do or accomplish, rather to trust in me and be content

To look to me and not to man made idols which never listen or speak, blind without sight

For I alone am their LORD and their redeemer they cannot save themselves by their own strength

 

Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountainand go home.’” So 22,000

Of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many!

The LORD knew that there would be those in the group who weren’t cut out to fight, not hand to hand

And Gideon followed his instruction and told the timid or afraid to go home; even those who were left were too many

For the Lord’s purposes, often we can be oblivious to his purposes, we of his plans don’t understand

What we think his thoughts and plans are often wide of the mark, we need to seek his wisdom, of which he has plenty

 

 Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.

” When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups.

The way God works is often outside what we expect, he tests us in simple ways, to see what we have got

At times we can feel as though as we journey that we seem to be going round the mountain with lots of loops

That we’re not making progress, we seem to be re-doing the same stuff, like tying ourselves in a knot

In all this God is endeavouring to build our character, perseverance, even if we feel we’re running through hoops

 

In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs.

In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.”

There are times when we need to do things urgently because there is risk that we’ll be hit by logs

When we need to do things quickly, having said this it’s not always good to go at full steam

Sometimes we can be so enthusiastic that we rush into things without considering we may be hogs

Slurping without considering how it looks or taking time to hear God instead going full steam

God desires that we do things with reverence showing others we are his children not dogs

God sees our actions, notes how we interact and show our faith, even mouths in a stream.

 

 Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank

With their mouths in the stream, the Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you

In the circumstances Gideon faced he needed alert, strong warriors who were of highest rank

Able to react quickly to circumstances, to take orders and comprehend what God had in view

Numbers aren’t always important, quality over quantity can prevail, a small group can crank

Start and move more quickly, do things more stealthily; 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.

An army is only as good as its supplies and logistics management, Gideon had to follow God’s vision

Gideon could group them together more easily than 32,000 and show them this wasn’t a whim

Sometimes we get excited by being in a big group, but can get lost in the crowd, and lose vision

We need to trust in God, to listen to his voice, follow his plan, as we do we’ll go forward with him

 

 

Mark Maffey, January 2008 ©

(NLT )

 

http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

 

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