https://odb.org/MY/2023/04/10/strength-in-weakness-3
Judges 7:1-9 sets out a story that I heard preached quite some time back, but which I have forgotten. The beauty of ODB is that if we read it regularly, it brings to remembrance all these familiar stories from the bible, and once in a while, also a few obscure and less known ones. It just enriches our knowledge of God through His Word.
In this story, Gideon was out to do battle with the Midianites and had 32,000 men. But God wanted to cut down the army so that Israel would not boast that the victory was theirs. So God trimmed down the army until there were only 300 men to conclusively prove that victory is His alone. Thus, a perceived human weakness (very small army) was turned into strength (won the battle, nevertheless).
What does this story illustrate for us to apply in our real-life living? Does this story point to turning our weakness into strength? No, not so much. In my view, it illustrates the point that sometimes God may bring us to a position of weakness so that we will 100% rely on Him. That was exactly what Gideon had to do as the LORD had reduced his army of 32,000 men to 300 to fight a Midianite army of 120,000! It is hopeless and impossible! Yet if we continue to read Judges 12, the LORD delivered the victory to Gideon, the same way the LORD delivered Jericho to Joshua with a group of trumpet blowing men.
There are times when God brings us to a somewhat hopeless and impossible situation. Our only recourse is to pray and depend on Him. The Lord may take it to the extreme, to show us His love and compassion for us. It is undeniably Him working in the background.
For example, I had a difficult contract to close in a direct award transaction with the vendor having the upper hand. Every negotiator will know that done deals are impossible to negotiate. But it was turned around when the strategic direction became to tender out the whole project. This contract was outstanding for 6 months and would have been put on me if not for God working in the background, changing the direction of the project at the highest level. Or we could be sick and hopeless with Covid or in hospital due to an illness or for treatment for days, and our work at the office can not get done by us. But somehow, the Lord could arrange it such that work is continued and progressed. We are at our weakest and most vulnerable, and God came through for us. Sometimes, like Gideon, God brings us to the place of weakness so that His glory may shine forth. Therefore, trust in Him even if we feel we are hopeless and weak. He will see to it that the victory is His!
Ronnie's Thoughts 