WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Praise God that the battle belongs to him and give him the glory (see 2 Chronicles 20:15). Oversubscribed or outnumbered? I’ve recently noticed that some charities make the following statement on their appeal letters: ‘If programmes are oversubscribed, funds will go to another project.’ It’s their way of saying that you need not worry about them receiving too much money – it will still go to those who need it most. In today’s passage, we learn that, as far as God is concerned, Gideon’s appeal for troops was seriously oversubscribed. Let’s look at the numbers. The enemy was ‘like a swarm of locusts’ (v 12), estimated at 135,000 (see 8:10). Gideon has 32,000: he is outnumbered by more than four to one. By human standards, they are about to get a thrashing, but God says, ‘You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands’ (v 2, NIV, emphasis mine). Our need for encouragement Then we see Gideon, Strong Warrior Stage III, obediently reducing his forces by more than 99 per cent to just 300 men. No ifs, no buts, just obedience. So Gideon obeys, but he is still afraid. God knows this and in his kindness makes provision for Gideon’s encouragement (v 11). God knows my potential, but he also knows my frailties and weaknesses. No matter what our giftedness or calling he still sees our shortcomings, including our need for encouragement. He makes provision for this: just like a good teacher or godly human father, he encourages as well as challenges. Respond: ‘We should keep on encouraging each other’ (Hebrews 10:25). Who needs your encouragement today? http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-10