Why The Odds May Be Stacked Against You

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. Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. Judges 7:2-3 NLT

We learn in chapter 8 that the Midianite army Gideon was facing had 135,000 warriors. Verse 12 describes them this way, “The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!”  It’s no wonder that 22,000 of Gideon’s army were afraid and went home!  Do you ever feel like the odds are stacked up against you and you realize that if God doesn’t step in and defend you, you have no chance? That’s when our faith is tested the most. 

But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! 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. 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.” 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 and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” Judges 7:4-6 NLT

300 vs. 135,000! Wow, talk about the odds being stacked against you! God was taking no chances. He wanted to be sure that the Israelites knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He had given them the victory; that they had in no way earned it themselves. I would think they would have come to that conclusion even if the 32,000 Gideon started with had won the battle. Yet, God knew their hearts were out of touch with his intervention in their lives and they needed an extreme scenario to see it. I can’t help but wonder if some of the fearful circumstances I face come for the same reason. Why is it that we have so much trouble realizing the blessings in our lives come directly from God? How do we so quickly doubt His love when troubles come and we fail to recognize that He’s the one who woke us up this morning, who keeps our hearts beating and maintains order in the universe for our benefit?

Let’s ponder these questions and take advantage of the chance to learn from every detail in God’s word! Tomorrow we will pick it up and see how the battle turned out.