Read the full transcript below:

 

And the LORD said to Gideon, “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.’ – Judges 7:2

 

Gideon was probably not voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in his High School yearbook. In fact, more often than not, God chooses to use the “Class Clowns” or “Slackers” to do His will. It is truly amazing how God can use the implausible to do the impossible. But when dealing with mankind a problem can arise- the problem of pride. With Gideon, God chose someone who thought he had nothing to offer. But not everyone feels that way and God knows that, which is why He proceeded to preempt any trace of a prideful attitude before it could gain a foothold.

We are so grateful when God uses us to do His work, even when we have no capabilities in and of ourselves. But there is something innate in all of us which we need to guard against. The more we are used, and the more impressive the accomplishment, the more we forget that God is the One who actually did the work. We see the results, we get the “Thank You” cards, and we even receive some mild praise for a job well done. That’s where we get into trouble. We start to read our own press clippings. We start to believe that we had something to do with it because God used us as His instrument to accomplish His will. Would a hammer or saw get kudos for its contribution to a completed project? That would be ridiculous! This is why it is even more outrageous when we seek to claim what rightfully belongs to the Lord: THE GLORY.

God knows the thoughts and intents within a man’s heart. He knows that as soon as we are able accomplish something by God’s grace, we will quickly forget who empowered us to do it in the first place. God does not NEED us to do anything for Him. Instead, He chooses to use us in order to demonstrate His power to the world, and as a result we are blessed. In the story of Gideon, God takes an army and shrinks it down to 300 men. ONLY 300 MEN!!! To go up against “all the people of the East… as numerous as locusts; and their camels [were] without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.” How would you feel about those odds? We can quote all the verses we want about how God is on our side, which is completely true, but c’mon, put yourself in Gideon’s shoes! It seemed, by all accounts, to be an impossible feat for them to overthrow the enemy. And in reality, it was. That’s the point.

You could have all the Green Berets and Navy Seals you want. You would still never be able to overcome the enemy in this situation. It doesn’t matter how qualified you think you are. There is nothing in us that can overcome the odds stacked against us. That’s where God comes in. He provides the tools and the strength to use them in order to accomplish His purposes. You may be in a situation where it seems that God is stripping away your sense of accomplishment, maybe you feel like you don’t get enough credit. Perhaps you feel Him pushing you beyond your comforts and into something that may appear too hard for you. Chances are He is! Why would we think any differently? It’s His M.O. (Modus operandi) Just look at the Scriptures! If God has given you the opportunity to do something amazing, do it for HIM! Don’t try to take the glory from the One who deserves it all.

 

“…God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty… that no flesh should glory in His presence.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27b, 29

 

“For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” – 1 Samuel 14:6b