Too Many People?!!

Scripture – Judges 7:1-3: ¹Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. ²The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, ³announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

Reflection: What a message to receive! It goes against everything we know as common sense. It seems we are usually scrambling to find more people to be involved. The bigger the project, the more we think we need. Here’s Gideon, trying to do what God has called him to do. As best as he can, he’s assembled the biggest army he can muster to carry out this impossible mission. Then God comes back to him with this message that he has too many people. He needs to cut down the number. Yikes!!

God’s reasoning still fits today. I find it easy to take on more responsibility than is mine. Christ leads me in a direction. I go along, assuming I’ve got to make things happen. In reality, my job is to be available to do whatever the Lord wants. God’s job is to provide the power and any other resources needed. I’ll remember that today.

Lord, thank you for your power. Keep me clear as to what my responsibilities are as I follow your lead. Forgive me for trying to take over your role. You are the Lord. You get the credit and all the praise. I get to be part of your miraculous work. Thank you for that.

Reading for Sunday, January 6 (Don’t miss this!)

Scripture – Judges 7:4-7: ⁴But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say,‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” ⁵So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” ⁶Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. ⁷The 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 other men go, each to his own place.”