Creator, Father, King #104

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

WHEN YOU THINK OF the greatest military leaders of all time, who comes to mind?

• Alexander the Great?
• Hannibal?
• Julius Caesar?
• Genghis Khan?
• Napoleon Bonaparte?
• George Washington?
• Mickey Mouse? (Just wanted to see if you were paying attention!)

You probably don’t immediately think of Gideon, do you? Gideon was a judge whom God called to save his people from Midianite oppression. When the angel of the Lord first called Gideon, he was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from Israel’s overpowering enemies (Judges 6:11).

“Mighty hero!” the angel said. “The LORD is with you!” The scene was dripping with humorous irony.

Gideon’s task was daunting. Midian’s army was 135,000 strong with countless camels. Gideon had 32,000 foot soldiers. He was already facing more than 4-to-1 odds.

Then God did something shocking. Through a series of dismissals, God had Gideon whittle his army down to 300 soldiers. The odds were now utterly ridiculous: 450-to-1. Every Israelite had to kill more than 450 Midianites to win the battle! What’s more, God told them to attack Midian’s camp with strange weapons—empty jars, torches, and trumpets.

Why on earth did God do all this? Was he trying to get Israel killed?

No! Actually, it was the exact opposite.

What’s It Mean?

God was going to save Israel. But he was going to do it with a heavenly display of power they would never forget.

“If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength,” God told Gideon (Judges 7:2).

God could see inside his people’s hearts. He knew how quickly they would take credit for a victory they didn’t earn and glory that wasn’t theirs.

We are no different. Too often, we sinfully want the glory for ourselves even though all our gifts and abilities and everything we accomplish are only by God’s grace and power.

Prayerfully search your heart. Are there areas in your life where you need to actively give God the glory? Maybe it’s sports, academics, work, music, or something else. Whatever it is, offer praise and honor where it’s due—to your Creator. He alone is worthy of it!

Now What?

Read about the miraculous way God gave victory to Gideon and his three hundred men in Judges 7.

Did You Know?

Gideon was also called Jerub-baal, meaning “Let Baal defend himself,” because he had broken down Baal’s altar earlier in life (Judges 6:28-32).