In Judges 7:2, God tells Gideon that he has ‘too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands’. As such, God commands Gideon to perform certain tasks that whittles the army down from 30,000 men to just 300. Why? The second half of Judges 7:2 explains:
… In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her
God wants to ensure the glory for the victory goes to the right place. If Gideon’s army was 30,000 strong, it would be very easy for Israel to claim victory in their own strength. Yet an army of 300 makes it perfectly clear that victory would have divine origins. The reason God wants all glory to go to Him, is because giving glory to anyone or anything other than God is giving glory to that which is second rate; and God does not settle for second rate.
The question this episode poses for Christians is; where does God need to whittle down our strength? If God were to give us victory in particular areas in our life, such as career, finances, sport or exams, would we take the glory for ourselves, or give it to God. Is this perhaps why God doesn’t give us victories in certain areas; because God knows our pride would take the glory for ourselves.
The best way to avoid such pride is to remember that any gifts, skills or talents we may have in life, are a gift from God. And the more talented, smart, good looking or rich a person is, the more a debtor they are to God. What areas in our lives may we be ‘too strong’ (proud) for God to use powerfully? May we heed James’ advice and ‘humble ourselves before the Lord, and HE will lift us up’.
Brendan McLaughlin
