Growing up on the south side of Chicago (albeit in the better side of town) fights were a daily occurrence. Gangs were a little less common but visible. I knew a couple of classmates who got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, completely outnumbered. They weren't aware of the danger (or they were just goofy) and they were not prepared for what was about to ensue.
In a firefight a small group, that has the right strategic position and with the right weaponry can surgically dismember a larger contingency. The key is the preparation of the body, the mind and the heart in order to pull it off. But what lunatic wants to put themselves in that kind of a position, with those odds and that level of "downside."
How about this would you ever take on an army of 100,000 with, oh, say, 300 men? From a self-serving and survival kind of sense it sounds like you would have to be part of the lunatic fringe doesn't it ?
You will get no argument from this guy I gotta tell ya.
Gideon though had precisely this situation. He started wit the odds stacked against him at 10:1 (10,000 for Gideon vs. 100,000 for the bad guys). That didn't suit God though. He would command him to pare it down. Otherwise, especially at 10:1 Gideon and his men would be tempted to pat themselves on the back for a job well done. would not allow Gideon to fight with this many soldiers, because the temptation would still remain to believe that it was the strength of his army that won the victory. God told Gideon to pare down his army to a mere 300. This would ensure that God would receive total credit for the victory. This is a law in the Kingdom of God. All glory must go to Him. Announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained - Judges. 7:3
Now there are 10,000 men left but that was still too many. God gave Gideon an interesting selection method for the 300 as he took the men down to the water. There the Lord told General Gideon, Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink - Judges 7:5b
What was the significance of this? What do you think?
Those soldiers who lapped water like a dog were soldiers who were more aware of the enemy around them compared to those who kneeled to drink. The "lappers" were men who were on constant guard to the danger around them, keeping their eyes up, their ears perked and clearly having their wits and senses in full, on-guard mode. The others, in God's wisdom, not so much.
I desire to be part of God's elite army. Where my feet tread I desire that God's enemies tremble.I pray that it is your desire as well. If this is to be true of us then we must be battle ready. We must be sensitive to the spiritual dangers around us and fully armed to take them on. In Ephesians 6:10-13 Paul's expectations for his spiritual children is that they are strong in God, in His might, wearing the armor that God Himself provided.
We must be conscious of the world around us, be in this world but realize that our training and sensitivity needs to be toward our homeland, the Kingdom of God. We need to have our hearts set on God's strategies and tactics and plans so that when the order is given, or the situation presents itself, we know how to respond. We are to stand and deliver love to a dying world and death blows to Satan and his minions. Be sober-minded and vigilant. Your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour - 1 Pet. 5:8
Beware of the spiritual dangers around you. But more than this, listen to the command post. There is a battle to be fought today and I want to hear that your kill rate exceeds 10:1. God's standard is 3000:1 - surely we are that good! I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
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