The Battle is the Lord's

Judges 6:36-7:25

"Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army [or whatever else you may be facing].  For the battle is not yours, but God's."  2 Chronicles 20:15b

God allowed the Israelites to be in several impossible situations so He could show them both His mighty power and His faithfulness to rescue them.  Remember when they were slaves in Egypt with no way of escape, and God performed miracles that finally persuaded Pharaoh to let them go?  Remember how they were hemmed in with the Red Sea in front of them, mountains on each side of them, and the Egyptian army moving in behind them, and God opened up the Red Sea?  Remember when they needed to cross the Jordan River at flood stage, and God opened up a path through it into the land of Canaan?  God often places us in situations where we are completely helpless.  If we trust and obey Him, He rescues us against overwhelming odds.  Our part is to give Him all the praise and all the glory.  It is our privilege and pleasure to tell others what the Lord has done.

God wanted the Israelites to see His power and His faithfulness again.  Gideon had raised an army of 32,000 men to face a Midianite army so vast that their camels were too numerous to count.  God told Gideon he had too many men and to send those who were afraid home.  22,000 men left, leaving an army of 10,000.  God said that was still too many men.  He told Gideon to take the soldiers to the water and separate those who drank from their cupped hands by lapping the water from those who knelt to drink.  Three hundred men cupped their hands and lapped, and God told Gideon to send the rest home.  Now God had the Israelites right where He wanted them--in an impossible situation.

That night, after the Midianite soldiers had gone to sleep, Gideon and his soldiers quietly surrounded the camp.  They each had a jar with a torch inside in one hand and a trumpet in the other hand.  When Gideon gave the signal, they smashed the jars, releasing the torches.  They blew the trumpets and shouted,  "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon."  God caused such confusion in the camp that he Midianite soldiers began to fight each other and then run away.  God came to the rescue of His people in another impossible situation.  His promise that the battle is the Lord's is a promise for us in our difficult and impossible situations as well, if we will trust Him and obey Him as Gideon did.

Father, nothing is too hard for You.  May we trust you in all the situations of our lives.  Thank You for all the times You have rescued us already.  Amen.