Less Than One Per Cent

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: Fingerpost | Apr 1973

Some army generals will go into battle only if they have superiority in numbers of men and equipment. This may be good human planning, but God does not work that way. He is content to achieve His purposes through a minority, showing that He works in strange or paradoxical ways (Luke 5:26). He often does the very' opposite to what man would do, and this is one of the divine secrets which we have to learn as Christians.

Gideon might have felt more secure with the original 32,000 to meet the enemy which was likened to a multitude of locusts (Judges 7:12). The number was reduced to 10,000 because the majority went home in fear and trembling (verse 3). The army was still too large for the Lord, and so He whittled it down to 300 proven men (verses 4-9). God needed less than one per cent of the original number to prove His victorious power

After dividing the 300 into three companies, and equipping them with trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches - not the most formidable weapons by any means - Gideon spoke these memorable words: "Look on me, and do likewise... as I do, so shall ye do" (verse 17). This was the same man who earlier was so depressed and discouraged that he questioned the Lord with his "...why... where...which..."(6:13). What brought about the change? The Lord appeared unto him and looked upon him, and said, "Go ... save... have not I sent thee?" (6:14). That look made all the difference, and Gideon became a strong, determined, courageous warrior for God. And now he could say to his little group, "Look on me, and do...". With 301 dedicated souls, surrounded by broken pitchers and each man holding a trumpet and a lighted torch, the Lord defeated an enemy which was no doubt armed to the teeth.

What is the lesson here? We who are in God's house today are a minority, and a very small one. We get discouraged just as Gideon did, and we begin to question and to doubt. Do we not need the Gideon experience? that look of encouragement from our glorious Leader, the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10, RVM). We must be willing to carry on the fight with Him and for Him, and with the divine equipment He has given us. Let us not belittle that which He has given to us. Gideon's men did not question, complain, or doubt the battle plan, their fewness of numbers, or the scanty weapons. Nor should we. We must be prepared to blow our trumpets, break our pitchers, hold aloft our torches, and cry' out, "victory... through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).

"Our glorious Leader claims our praise

For His own pattern given;

While the long cloud of witnesses

Show the same path to heaven."

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Apr 1973
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