Unlikely Victory – Dr. Hona Amer

Scripture:

“He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He gave each man a trumpet and an empty jar, with a torch in the jar. He said, ‘Watch me and do what I do. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly what I do. When I and those with me blow the trumpets, you also, all around the camp, blow your trumpets and shout, ‘For God and for Gideon!’

Gideon and his hundred men got to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the sentries had been posted. They blew the trumpets, at the same time smashing the jars they carried. All three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands, ready to blow, and shouted, ‘A sword for God and for Gideon!’ They were stationed all around the camp, each man at his post. The whole Midianite camp jumped to its feet. They yelled and fled. When the three hundred blew the trumpets, God aimed each Midianite’s sword against his companion, all over the camp. They ran for their lives—to Beth Shittah, toward Zererah, to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.” Judges 7:16-22 (MSG)

Perspective:

Before Gideon got to the battle, he faced many tests along his journey. He first asked God for a sign to know that God was directing him, and God honored his request. Even when God commanded him to lead the Israelites against their enemies, he was rather reluctant to obey. Then, once he decided to walk in obedience, God decided that his army was too large. An army that started with thousands of people was dwindled down to 300. This was not a common military strategy; you usually want more people in army rather than less. Yet, God was growing Gideon’s trust in Him through this experience. From a human perspective, victory was unlikely. How could Gideon expect to take 300 men and win a battle against a large army? Gideon knew that God was with him and had directed him to this point. Over and over, God gave him confirmation that He was with Gideon. As they waited in the darkness of the night, the military strategy was turned upside down. Instead of swords and masses of soldiers, they were to have a trumpet, empty jar, and torch. When it seemed like the battle couldn’t possibly be won, God showed up. Through Gideon’s obedience, God did what Gideon couldn’t do; He caused the Midianites to turn against themselves. The reality was that a whole Midianite army fled from 300 men. Only God could bring that kind of victory.

You might be facing a battle as well, and the magnitude of the situation is overwhelming. As you look at your ability to overcome, you see impossibility, lack of resources, and pending defeat. You don’t know how it’s going to turn out. Yet, in the battles that we face, many times God works in nontraditional means so that we fully understand that God has given us victory. Like Gideon, we can’t focus our attention on what we don’t have but rather on what God has entrusted to us. It will require you to be bold and confident in God’s power even against insurmountable odds. When we walk by faith in the midst of difficulty, we can’t count God out of the equation. He is able to intervene in your situation in ways that you could have never imagined, planned, or conceived. From Gideon’s story, it is apparent that God was working the entire time. Even if your situation looks unlikely or even impossible, walk in obedience and trust God for the victory.