JESUS IS WITH HIS FOLLOWERS/DISCIPLES

“Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained… Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.  The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. —Judges 7:3, 6-8

Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside… When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. —Judges 6:22

Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army. —Judges 8:12

             What would you have thought if you had an army of 32,000 and said to them that if anyone was fearful, they could go home and 22,000 did?  Wow… that left you with about 31% of your army remaining.  But then 21,700 did not meet the requirements to continue into battle and so that left you with only about 1.3% of your army!  How would you feel?  But this is the number that our Lord God Almighty wanted Gideon to have for the up-coming conflict.  And, with those 300 men our Lord God Almighty gave Gideon the victory.

             First, Gideon did not see himself as a “mighty man of valor.”  So, what would make him one?  He is a “mighty man of valor” because of— “The LORD is with you” (Judges 6:12).  It was our Lord God Almighty that was with Gideon that made him a “mighty man of valor!”  Then our Lord said to Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”  When our Lord sends us to do something, will He not accomplish what He desires through us?  But again, it is because our Lord God Almighty said, “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:16).  Because of Gideon’s faithful obedience, trusting our Lord God Almighty’s Word, Gideon “pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.”

             So, brothers and sisters, fellow followers/disciples of Jesus, what has He told us to do?  He said He would be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  What He has called us to, He will do.  Will you trust Him as Gideon did?  Dear Father, may it be so for today and the rest of our lives by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4dmG9DU_io&list=RDF4dmG9DU_io&start_radio=1