Bible Marginalia- The Victory is the Lord's

Bible Marginalia Series- #49

Visited Harod Springs

 near the hill of Moreh this month in Israel.

Sat by the spring and read the story

 of Gideon and the fleece.

Gideon and the Lord in a battle strategy plan.

The Lord tells Gideon-

 "the people with you are too many."

I can't let you go into battle with so many,

 because some might say it is YOU 

who have won the battle.

Gideon had 32,000 men.

Tell those who are afraid to go home.

22,000 went home.

10,000 remained.

Still too many says the Lord.

Take them down to the Springs

 for a drink, says the Lord.

Some drank with their hands

 and some lapped like dogs.

300 men lapped like dogs.

The Lord said to take these men into battle.

And at the set of middle watch,

 they blew trumpets and broke open jars that hid torches.

Chaos commenced.

And Gideon and 300 men defeated the Midianites.

Sometimes in ministry

 it is easy to feel outnumbered,

 with the forces declining,

 and the people numbers

 seem like they can't carry the work load.

Those are the odds that our Lord loves.

When people can't take credit for "a win."

When it is so lopsided that the victory

 can't be claimed by the humans,

 it is a battle for the Lord.

Maybe a Harod's Spring pep talk

 could be the incentive

 to say yes to 

an unbelieveable ministry undertaking.

outrageous odds?

 meet an Outrageous GOD.

Supplies-

 Colored pencil

Fine-point Sharpie marker- non-bleeding

Washi tape