given them over to the Midian’s; in fact they had been under Midian rule for seven long years.

 But God was listening; he heard their cry and sent Gideon to lead the people out from under the Midians.  Gideon wasn’t too sure about this calling and asks for a couple of miracles to make sure.  You can read about the dew and the fleece in Judges 6.  A lesson learned here is this; don’t be afraid to ask questions. Questions are what educate us.

 Now when we get to Judges 7, the core of the lesson begins.  Gideon assembles a small “army” of men to go out and wage battle with the Midian army.  The number in the Midian army was about 135,000 soldiers.  Gideon had some 32,000 men.  Now I have to tell you that for most of us (myself included) I would not consider this to be near enough, thoughts of the Alamo flash through my head.  As we wage our daily war of Christianity,  are we looking at our physical resources, at our numbers?  I am sure that Gideon was looking at the numbers and thinking; “sure wish we had about another 100,000 men.”  Now I surmise this because the Bible doesn’t say.

 What it does record is that God tells Gideon; “You’ve got too many guys, you have to send some home.”  So everyone who was afraid got to go home; most of us would have been headed for the house about then.  Even then God wanted the army downsized, 22,000 men had left and 10,000 remained, that is 13.5 to one odds.

 What lesson can be learned here?  God’s power, His greatness is without limit; truly with God nothing is impossible.

 Even with 10,000 God held His original concern; will these men think that they accomplished this by their own power?  This brings to mind what was said to Zerubbabel and recorded for our edification in Zechariah 4, “… Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.”  In spite of all the distractions around us, if we yield ourselves to Gods mighty hand, to His Son – then and only then is progress made.

 Let’s continue with Gideon’s story because there is a final cap on the lesson.  With a final test the 10,000 become 300; and these mere 300 men – by the power of God, not by the numbers of men overcome and conquer a standing army of 135,000 – that’s 450 to one.  Think about this, think about the awesome power of God, the surety of his promise.

 During this Passover season we only need one —- Jesus our Christ, the Messiah.  Put your faith and your focus on Jesus!  We sing an old hymn written by Arthur Sullivan, “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” The words of this powerful hymn blend wonderfully with Gideon’s story.  The next time you sing this hymn, think about God’s army of 300 full of faith, trusting not in the physical numbers but trusting in the power of God.  Put your trust in Jesus the Royal Master, He is our Savior!  He is coming back, not to be beaten, bloodied and crucified again—- but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.