It’s been said that you go to war with the army you have, not necessarily the army you think you need or want. This is true in our daily lives; we can always point to the things we don’t have that we think would make life easier.
In fact, they probably would not … but not for the reasons we might think.
It is a hard lesson we must continually re-learn: seeing the value in what we have, in what has been provided for us, and moving forward with it in faith. From our most personal of thoughts to the most public of actions, our discontent can blind us to God’s provisions for our good.
One of my favorite examples of this is found in the sixth and seventh chapters of Judges. We read how the people of God were preparing to attack their enemies; the Israelite force was 20,000 strong against an even larger opponent. But, still, it was an impressive showing of men that had been assembled by the Hebrew military leader, Gideon.
Gideon had faith the Israelites would achieve victory, but he still had to learn that it would be on God’s terms.
Today in Israel, you can travel to the very spring where God had Gideon winnow the troops in what might be one of the most unconventional military tactics in the Bible (and, let’s face it, the Bible is full of them).
First, God told Gideon to let any who were fearful of taking on a powerful army leave. Half did so. Then, He instructed Gideon: “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.”
There were just 300 who lapped the water; God wanted Gideon to have them. The rest were sent packing.
An army of uncouth water-lappers is a reminder that God’s choices usually aren’t what we’d expect.
It’s no secret why God did this; He was abundantly clear. God said He did not want Israel to “boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’” God wanted them to understand their victory was His working, not theirs.
We too often look at the challenges ahead of us and wish for what we do not possess, and even show disdain for what we have. We forget the most salient fact: In the polity of God, He is the unified majority.
As was demonstrated at Gideon’s spring, an army of thousands can be routed by 300. But God wants both the 300 and the thousands to understand the true source of that victory.
As we go about our daily struggles and battles, God has given us all we need to be successful and victorious. We must simply proceed faithfully with the allies and tools God has provided, knowing victory will come in His time. It may not look how we want, but it is always what God knows we need.
