The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men.” (Judges 7:2)
Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, “There is safety in numbers,” which is an aphorism that reflects the general truth that an individual is less likely to be attacked if he or she is part of a large group. If you’ve ever spent time watching television shows about wildlife, you’ve undoubtedly seen how predators wait for an unwary animal to wander away from the safety of the herd and then attack. Hence, there is safety in numbers.
However, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to the safety you have in the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. In God’s economy, there is not safety in numbers, but in One. Oh, what a word of comfort we have before us today!
You may remember that the Lord God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle against the Midianite army. Gideon started with 32,000 warriors, but God told him he had too many. The Lord dismissed 22,000 men, and then sent another 9,700 troops away, eventually leaving Gideon with a small band of 300 men to battle against the entire Midianite Army. Safety and success for Gideon would not be found in numbers, but in the One who would give him victory.
Here is a biblical truth that will bring you cosmic comfort: With God on your side, you are always on the winning team. As Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Every great hero of the faith we read about in Scripture understood this truth by way of personal experience. During King Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrian army was preparing to sack Jerusalem and confidently ordered the people to surrender. But the prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah to trust in the One who could save him. He did, and that night the angel of the Lord put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:14-37).
Remember, when you are battling “against all odds,” your safety will not be found in numbers, but rather in One. God has been faithful to deliver you in the past and He will deliver you once again. When the apostle Paul said he would boast in his weakness, it was because God had made it clear to Paul that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). No matter what you are facing today in your personal or professional life, face it in the strength of the One, and you can rest assured that God’s grace will be sufficient for you every step of the way. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 