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Judges 7:4-8, But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Gideon started with roughly thirty-two thousand troops from four different tribes.  That may seem like a lot to us but it was really a drop in the bucket compared to the massive Midianite army.  And yet, God says it’s too many men.  So God gives instructions to thin out the troops, first by telling those who are scared of the fight to go home and then by separating the men by how they drink water from a stream. 

God knew his people well – with a large army, they would take the credit for the victory.  By the time God finished with his instructions, only three hundred Israelites remained to fight.  Now, it seems almost like a suicide mission against the Midianites EXCEPT the God of the universe is on their side.  There is no earthly fighting force that can even get close to God’s power.  And there would be no question – the victory was totally and completely belonged to the Lord.

How many people need to be reminded today that there is no earthly force greater than our God? 

Let’s pray…Holy God, You are all-powerful, all-mighty, and all-knowing.  Nothing on earth comes close to you.  Help us not be deceived by the things of this world but trust you totally and completely.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.