Less is More

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’” Judges 7:2

It seems that God doesn’t like to fight fair. I mean, why send an army of thousands to fight another army of thousands when you can send an army of 300, defeat them, and get the glory in the process?

God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle against the Midianites. According to the biblical writer, the Midian army looked like a swarm of locusts and were as numerous as sand on the seashore. Gideon, even on his best day and with all the men of Israel armed for battle, couldn’t contend with those numbers.

But God ordered Gideon to trim his troops to a mere 300. That way, when the battle was won, they’d know Who had really secured the victory.

That seems to be God’s modus operandi. Win a battle with 300 men, or feed a multitude with a little boy’s lunch. He likes the odds to be stacked against his people (at least from the earthly standpoint) so that they won’t get all cocky and think that they are actually the source of their successes.

This is one of the reasons God commands us to pray for daily bread. He doesn’t want us relying on our own (perceived and fleeting) riches. He wants us looking to him.

One of the biggest enemies to our relationship with God is pride. When God gives us favor, when we are successful at making money or have great gifts and talents, we need to be careful that we don’t start believing our own headlines.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). I think the key word there is every.

So, do you have a huge task ahead with only minimal resources? Don’t fret it. That’s exactly where God wants you.

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