The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’” (Judges 7:2)
The Israelites were overpowered by the Midianites and they cried out to God for help. Then God appointed Gideon as their leader and told him to strike the Midianites. However, Gideon was afraid and doubtful. Only after repeated signs and reassurances from the Lord did he prepare for battle.
When he had gathered about 30,000 soldiers, God told him they were too many. He had to send most of his soldiers home, until only 300 men were left to fight against 135,000. This way, nobody could ever think that they had won the battle by their own power! And even these 300 men did not have to fight hard. They only had to blow their trumpets in the middle of the night and to smash jars with torches inside, giving the Midianites the impression that they were attacked by a large army. The Midianites fled and were pursued by the Israelites. God gave them into Gideon’s hand, as He had promised.
When we are in a difficult situation, we may ask God for help. But when the problems are solved, we tend to think that “our own hand has saved us”! This story exhorts us to recognize God’s saving power and to honor him for it.
Looking back to your life, did you trust in your own power or in God’s power?