“Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’” – Judges 7:2 (AMP)

God is a Mighty Man of War and He does not need millions of soldiers to save a people from their enemies because He alone deserves the glory and praise for the victory He wins. This was the short narrative to the deliverance of the children of Israel from the hands of the Midianites who oppressed them. God appeared to Gideon and gave him a mandate to lead the army of Israel to victory against the Midianites but there was a problem. The soldiers were too many and God wouldn’t want them to have the victory and claim the glory for themselves because of their great number.

God spoke to Gideon to declare that whoever was afraid should go back home and twenty-two thousand soldiers left out of thirty-two thousand. Yet, God said they were too many and then He instructed Gideon to test them by the river and their number was reduced to three hundred men. How humanly possible is it for these hundreds of men to defeat an army that is as much as the sand on the seashore? But God was doing a great thing.

God fought this battle with only 300 men and then, victory was won. What God desired as the end result was accomplished. God took all the glory because, logically, it made no sense. A miracle happened in that the enemy began to kill themselves and that was how the children of Israel was delivered but the glory was God’s and Gideon did not even try to take it for himself because it was beyond him.

Dear soldier of Christ, the victories you have in Christ is a gift from the Lord Himself and you do not have the because you knew how to war or that you have the strength to war. The empowerment comes from the Lord and thus, you must know to give glory and praise to God for the victories He gives you daily. None of them is accomplished by your power, might, strength or even wisdom. The moment you begin to think that you have these victories by your own power, then you are walking the path of using yourself to replace God.

Anytime anyone asks how you have the victorious experiences you have, do not allow pride in your heart and then you begin to recount the number of days you fasted or the offerings you gave or the number of mountains you went to pray. All of this could have truly been instructed by God but if the Lord chose not answer your prayers, you cannot do anything about it. Therefore, let it be known that you have all that you have and you are all that you are by the grace of God alone.

Reflections: Have I ever thought I have certain victories by my strength and participation in some spiritual activities? Who takes the glory for the life of ease and comfort that I live daily?

Confession: I am all that I am by the grace of God. I have strength and wisdom to align with God’s battle strategies and I have victory in His name.

Related Scriptures: Judges 7 & 8

Bible Reading: Genesis 1