Next To Nothing

Judges 7.1-8

God delights in using the small things, the insignificant to accomplish His will.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

So often when we are called to do something for the LORD, we inventory our assets. We count up our resources. We see what we have to work with.

Now Jesus did talk to us about counting. However it was about the cost of following Him. He used two examples.

One was a tower. The other a king going to war. Both have to do with following Jesus. Both have to do with being part of the church. Christ is building His church. We are in a battle, a continual battle.

Luke 14.28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

We need to be truthful with people as we seek to lead them to Christ. There is a cost.

This account of Gideon fighting the Midianites gives us lessons in faith in regard to resources.

1. God Reduces Resources So No One Will Boast. v.2-3
The LORD calls us to do something. We respond. Then suddenly our resources are reduced. We wonder what is going on.

Many times the LORD has something spoke over us or into our lives and then things look like it could never happen. We look for it to happen naturally or through our efforts. God wants it to happen supernaturally so He will get the glory.

Our endeavors meet with almost certain failure until we call on the LORD.

Habakkuk 1.5

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
Joseph, Gideon, David


2. Many Times The LORD Sifts Our Numbers Down. v. 4
We don't know what He is doing.
He is making us strong.
He is building us up.
He is getting us ready.
An athlete goes into training. He is in pain before he truly begins to reach his potential. Developing a champion is painful work.

Pruning or sifting is a painful process. It feels a little like death. Is second sifting was very difficult. The first dealt with those whose hearts were in fear. The second with those whose hearts were right but were not natural warriors. They would have been a deterrent to victory.

I think this second sifting was harder than the first. It brought the numbers down to next to nothing. From 32,000 to 300!

This was part of Gideon learning that
3. The Battle and The Victory Belongs to the LORD. v.7-8
The LORD got the troops so thinned out that Gideon had no other choice but to look to heaven for help.

We go through financial challenges.
We face physical illness.
We find ourselves in pressure spots. Where do we look? If we are loaded down with resources our natural tendency is to look to them. Whether we are or whether we're not, our real need is to look to the LORD and realize the Battle belongs to Him and He will give us the victory.

If you have next to nothing this morning in facing a battle or challenge in your life, it very well could be that the LORD has you right where He wants you!
It just may be that the answer has already arrived, that need is already provided for. God is speaking today to your heart.

He will take care of you!

vs. 9-25

My good friend, Pastor Kevin Henesy shared this devotional thought earlier this morning:
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord" v.31
This same principle is found in Psalm 127. People will make their plans, people will seek to protect themselves, preparing for battle, guarding what they own. We would look at that and probably agree that it is wise to do so and yet I believe the danger is that we trust in what we have done. We trust in human strength, we trust in natural ability, we trust in training and we trust in natural devices. In doing so we depart from putting out trust in the Lord and we become proud, trusting in ourselves and what we have done. This is a dangerous place, the place of pride.
In contrast to pride which is self dependance, is humility which is God dependance. Moses depended upon the Lord, while Pharaoh trusted in himself, his army and his military might! God dependance won the day, even though the odds appeared impossible! Faith in the One who says, is there anything too hard for Me? God is a delivering God, He fights the battle we can never fight and He wins against impossible odds. When God is for us who can be against us? Look at Joseph, Esther, Ruth, David, Daniel, the list goes on and on! God is the God of the impossible and He delights in true faith and responds and works on behalf of the person who loves Him, trusts in Him and lives for His Glory not their own. Deliverance is of the Lord!!!

As with those in Hebrews 11 so with us!
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Go in the power and might of the LORD today!