There are times in life when we feel we are outnumbered. We live in a society where the majority rules. In the military realm, statistics have shown the size of the army makes the difference in victory or defeat. However, there are always things that can change the odds for victory. Sometimes there are factors that are greater than the number of participants. You can be outnumbered and still win!
In Judges chapter 6, the children of Israel had once again have gone their own way and done evil in the sight of the Lord. They are now at the mercy of their enemies because of their rebellion against God. They were so oppressed by the enemy they were hiding out in caves and doing whatever they could to survive.
Judge 6:1 “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.”
Once again, they cried out to the Lord for deliverance and God heard and answered their prayer, but not the way they thought it would be.
Judges 6:6 “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.”
God sends a prophet to speak to them and reminds the Israelites of how He has taken care of them in the past. How quickly they had forgotten about the greatness of their God.
Judges 6:8-10 “That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.”
Now God sends an angel to speak to Gideon. He is threshing wheat by the winepress where he will be hidden from the Midianites. The Israelites were living in fear 24/7. However, God is His mercy hears their cries for deliverance and He begins the process of overcoming their enemy. Gideon asks the Lord why they are in this mess.
Judges 6:12-14 “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”
In the rest of chapters 6 and 7, Gideon has a conversation with the Lord and is seeking to get answers and overcome his fear. Finally, God answers every obstacle Gideon has. God does miracles in Gideon’s sight and Gideon’s faith is increased.
He gathers the people together to fight against the Midianites. Multitudes were ready for battle, but God tells Gideon they are too many. In Judges 7:2, God explains to Gideon that the people are so many that they will take credit for winning the battle. God wants them to know that they will win because of Him, not because of their own strength.
Judges 7:2 “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunts themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”
First, those who are fearful or afraid are told to return to their homes. Twenty-two thousand returned leaving ten thousand. God said there are still too many. He tells Gideon to bring the men to the water and all who cupped the water in their hands and lapped like a dog to set those aside, but those who bowed down with their face to the water were to return home. By this method, God whittled the army down to 300 men.
Judges 7:4-7 “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever, I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. So, he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Everyone that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise, every one that bowed down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
God then tells Gideon another strange thing to do. Give the men a trumpet in one hand, and a pitcher in the other with a light inside of it. When they hear him blow the trumpet, they are to blow theirs and say, “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” Then they were to break the pitchers and hold up their lights. These were the men God chose to win the battle His way. God had a plan, and this plan gave all the glory to Himself. Only God could win a battle like this. The numbers were stacked against them. Some historians say the number of the Midianites was about 135,000. Whether that is the correct amount or not God tells us they were outnumbered. Outnumbered so much so that it seemed to be an impossible task. That’s the kind of odds that God likes. That’s the odds that show His power and prove the victory was His. It is that kind of battle that reminds us that God is in control, and He will take care of us when we are against the odds.
Judges 7:16-17 “And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.”
Judges 7:20 “And the three companies blew the trumpets, and break the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.”
Are you facing something that seems impossible? Trust God. You are never outnumbered when God is on your side. If you are His child, He is for you and He will work His plan in your life if you obey. I love Paul’s explanation of how we should face being outnumbered.
Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
