Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. Judges 8:4 NIV
There are times, especially in ministry, as you follow your calling, you will find that you’re exhausted! Gideon was living through a time like that. Not only was he feeling the fatigue, he was leading 300 men who were feeling it also. Determined to see it through to the end, they kept up the pursuit. There is a real danger in starting strong but stopping short of all that God wants you to accomplish. Gideon and his men, could have stopped at the river and allowed the enemy to escape. But they knew that was not what God had called them to do so they pressed on and crossed the river.
He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?” From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. Judges 8:5-6, 8 NIV
Gideon knew his men were exhausted from the battle and hungry. He did what any good leader would do, he tried to give them what they needed to be refreshed and re-energized. But the men of Sukkoth and the men of Peniel were not willing to help. They were not convinced that Gideon and his small band of warriors would beat the odds and actually win the battle, so they were unwilling to side against the Midianites. They were clearly thinking of their own interests.
If you’ve ever been in leadership, you’ve no doubt faced a time when you and those serving under you were exhausted. When that happens, we, like Gideon naturally look to others for support. But what happens when they are unwilling to give it? Perhaps they don’t buy into your need or they are afraid if they help you it might deplete their own resources. What do you do then? What did Gideon do? He expressed his frustration and then kept pursuing the enemy. He didn’t waste time arguing. He didn’t get angry with God for not forcing them to help and he didn’t give up.
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen. Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the unsuspecting army. Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army. Judges 8:10-12 NIV
God had already given Gideon and his 300 men victory over 120,000 swordsmen from the Midianite army, and now He helped Gideon finish the task! Leaders, if you learn anything from the story of Gideon, learn this. God is all you need! You don’t need the number of workers you think you need. Trust that God has given you the right ones. You don’t need as many resources as you think you need. God will supply. When you look to others for help and support and they let you down, don’t be too disappointed. God will supply the resources you need to complete the job He’s called you to do. If you’re exhausted let God renew your strength and refresh those serving under your leadership. Keep your eyes on Him and determine above all else, that you will finish strong!