When Less Is More

The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back.’”

Judges 7:2-3

Too many men: God, what are you thinking? The enemy are 135,000 strong (Judges 8:10) and Israel has a mere 32,000 (7:3). You want all who are afraid to turn back? And guess what—22,000 did just that. Oh Lord! 

But the 10,000 who remained were still too many to suit God. What a sad commentary on the heart of the people of Israel, that they should think their strength was sufficient. So God whittled that 10,000 down to 300. Now all God’s people would know it was God who had saved Israel!

And then the LORD gave Gideon one more sign to reassure him, only this time Gideon didn’t have to ask: “If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward you will be encouraged to attack the camp” (7:10-11). There he and the servant, privy to a dream interpretation, understood, worshipped God, and gathered the troops for battle (7:15).

We all know the weapons of God are a little strange. Consider the collapse of Jericho’s walls at the loud shouts of the people (Joshua 6:20). And how about the feeding of 5000 with the young boy’s sack lunch (John 6:8-13)? Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside (Judges 7:15-16). The rest of the story is history.

As we worshipped in church a few Sundays ago, that utter simplicity of God’s ways struck me full force: 

“In the presence of my enemies 

 I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody

 …heaven comes to fight for me.” 

 —Bethel Music, JD and Melissa Helser

God prefers less, so we see more of Him:

To him be the glory forever! Amen. —Romans 11:36

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.