Don't Play It Safe #10

As we saw yesterday, Gideon took a little convincing and reassurance that God indeed was calling him to gather an army and fight against the Midianites to deliver His people, Israel.  Gideon did not say "no", but he did require confirmation that he had heard correctly.  When Gideon finally said "okay", God just didn't leave well enough alone...

Judges 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

In short, God had Gideon narrow down his army to less than one percent of its original size, making them greatly outnumbered by the Midianites. All of a sudden, the risk became much greater.  Yet, Gideon did as the LORD commanded and God won the victory.  Many times, it seems the greater the risk, the greater the victory, and the deeper our faith becomes.  When God calls, don't play it safe.