In Judges 6, we see the Israelites under severe oppression by a group of people called the Midianites. The oppression was so bad, these Midianites would come and steal the crops from the fields before the Israelites could get to them. This caused a severe food shortage for the people. (This reminds me of how the Soviet Union took all the food grown in Ukraine many years ago and the Ukranians starved by the thousands.)

A man named Gideon was hiding out protecting the wheat he was threshing. That day, as Gideon pondered the stories of miracles he had heard that God had done for his forefathers, he wondered where that God was and why his generation didn’t see any miracles. God responded by calling Gideon to the task of confronting the Midianites. Gideon couldn’t believe that God was really calling him to this and, after some back and forth conversation and a visit by an angel, and a couple of “fleeces,” Gideon grew in faith and courage. He became convinced that God was with him and that God wanted to rescue the nation.

Gideon managed to assemble 32,000 men who would fight alongside him. The people were tired of being bullied by the Midianites. But God said 32,000 was too many. What?

Judges 7:2 “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. The 22,000 were afraid of going up against the Midianites…they had to leave.

Too many? Really? Well, they just lost about 2/3 of their number. The story says the Midianites’ numbers could not be counted, there was so many as we shall see. And Gideon has just 10,000 men…and that group is about to get pared down to only 300 men….what?

I feel like that’s where we are in our country right now. Those who are afraid are being outed. Our leaders are afraid of the bullying that they suffer at the hands of those who want to take over and oppress the citizens of the United States. The bullying continues and even gets worse, but they are all still afraid. They may be afraid for their lives, because the bullies are violent and WILL harm those who oppose them.

Judges 7:12 “Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.“

But I say, at what point do those who are being bullied turn and knock the bully out? How much are those being bullied expected to take? This is like in school when the bully hits you in the chest, and you back up, then he hits you again, and you back up. At what point do you decide to defend yourself? How much will you take? How much will WE take as the bullies rule and reign over the “school yard” of the United States?

It looked really bad for Gideon and the Israelites. But God had a plan. God is always in the business of defeating the many with the few. This is an amazing story. 300 brave men were chosen for Gideon’s army, and in the end, the enemy armies destroyed each other and Israel was delivered from their oppressors. Gideon (or maybe God) managed to convince the enemy that Gideon was a scary guy, and in the confusion of it all, they turned on each other! Might we see the same thing here in America?

I believe God has a plan. Remember…the heavenly armies we can’t see are greater than the ones we can see. And if God be for us, who can be against us! Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you!

Lord, we declare that there is no answer for the problems in our nation but You. You are all there is. We take our place and wait for Your instructions. We know that with You and the angels of Heaven, we are a majority. We declare that Your promises are true and the evil one and all his plans are defeated! In Jesus’ mighty name. We trust You only, Jesus.