"Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the Lord and for Gideon." Judges 7:17,18
I remember the first fight that I ever got into. I was in fifth grade and can only say that it did not go my way. First off, her name was Nicole. I know, I know, I got beat up by a girl, but the first thing you must know is that she was like 6', 220 in fifth grade, and secondly, I never fought back. Dad has always warned me about what would happen to me if I hit a girl, so I just stood there in the corner of the playground at Sandstone Elementary in Billings, MT and took my pummeling for the penalty of losing her mechanical pencil she loaned me. The fight ended when I finally blurted out that I would buy her a new one. Weeks later I found out she actually liked me....women have a funny way of expressing interest sometimes.
I had been afraid. She had warned me earlier in the day that she would be waiting for me. I thought about telling a teacher, but embarrassment kept me from saying anything. I certainly wasn't going to tell my other guy friends. So I made my way out the back doors that I usually left, hoping that somehow she wouldn't be there, scared to death, feeling impending doom. She was there.
Have you ever felt like that? Maybe it wasn't a freakishly large girl, but rather a task that you had to or a speech you had to give. What it was, it's gnawing at your gut, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, under prepared, facing certain doom.
Early this week I was re-reading some portions in Judges that I've been thinking about in regards to the difference leadership makes in others. As I read through the account of Gideon, I tried to identify, not so much with Gideon, but the other 300 men he was leading. The account reminds me of another character leading 300 men, Leonidas, though this account ends differently.
Imagine that you're part of a 32,000 man army, getting ready to do battle with the Midianites. This wasn't clean 'war-movie' battle either, this would be a stab or be stabbed battle, with spears flying and blood everywhere. Where people get mixed up and the next fatal blow could come unforeseen from behind. Oh yeah, you're facing an army of 135,000 in front of you. You're outnumbered 4 - 1.
Then, just when you thought that was bad, Gideon says that anyone who is afraid can leave, and 22,000 of your fellow soldiers go home. Did you hear him right? He's going to let 22,000 men leave his already badly outnumbered army. You're outnumbered 13.5 - 1.
Then Gideon takes you all down to the water for a drink, and you and 299 other guys drink the water lifting it to your mouths. You're not animals you know. Suddenly everyone else is sent home, and it's you and those same 299 guys that Gideon is going into battle with. You're outnumbered 450 - 1.
Those kinds of odds are enough to send the bravest men running for the hills. But that's not what happens. What happens is God delivers the Midianites into the hands of Gideon, and an army of 300 defeats an army of 135,000 and sends them running for the hills mingled with the cries of "for the Lord and for Gideon."
Gideon wasn't perfect. He himself struggled with inadequacy, struggled with confidence to make such a maneuver. But once God put his head straight, he never looked back. Apparently neither did the 300 men following him. Clearly the Lord taught a lesson to the Israelites about where true might comes from, but He clearly also worked through Gideon, and his men who had confidence in him. God raises up earthly leaders to accomplish his goals and lead his men.
Are you the kind of leader that inspires your men and women to trust God no matter the odds? Do they trust you? Do the trust the vision God has given you? Like Gideon's army some will be too afraid, some will not be suited or prepared, but if God has given you a vision, He will accomplish it for you and through you, no matter the odds.
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