Impossible Odds

Sometimes when I'm reading the Old Testament, I read of the victories the Israelites had in battle and I think to myself, "Of course, they won...they had the Living God on their side...duh!" But have you ever stopped to think what it must have been like to be the Israelites going into battle? They didn't have horses and chariots (that would give them the power of man and animal to trust in rather than in the Power of the Living God). And then I read Judges 7 about Gideon's victory over the Midianites. He had 1 soldier for every 450 Midianite soldiers. I'm no warrior but I'm pretty sure its not a good thing to be so outnumbered when you're headed into battle! Also, they went into battle with a vessel and a trumpet. Definitely not ideal weapons for war. Who trembles at the sight of a trumpet or vessel? But Gideon obeyed. He went out in faith and he prevailed! (Say what!?) How can that be possible for him to come out victorious with such impossible odds? And yet, the Bible records it and so we know its true and that the glory for this great victory goes to God alone, certainly not the men or their weapons!

I wonder what Gideon thought? They had more men but the Lord whittled away until they were at a disadvantage. And what did he think of the Lord's choice of weapons? I can wonder about Gideon's response but I know what my own response is when I feel the odds are against me, when I feel inadequately equipped according to my own feeble perceptions for the task at hand. I am reminded that, like Gideon, I need to obey the Lord's commands and respond in faith. Oftentimes, it seems the Lord asks us to respond in obedience, even if we are not actually adequate for the job...for in our own inadequacies is where we learn to rely more fully on Him and where He gets the most glory for the success. If the Lord has asked me to do it, then I must obey in faith and trust Him with the victory! May we be reminded today that even in the midst of impossible odds, there is victory when we respond in obedience and faith to the commands of our God and Savior.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:1-5