What is the Lesson of Gideon and his 300-Man Army? by Carey Kinsolving on Creators.com

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What is the Lesson of Gideon and his 300-Man Army?

"Gideon used fire because the electricity ran out. God said blow the horns and crash real big, and he would give them electricity," says Weston, 4.

I'm sure Gideon and his band of 300 would be surprised to know they solved Israel's energy crisis in the late 11th century B.C. The problem in Gideon's day, however, was a spiritual energy crisis. God called the most unlikely man to lead a spiritual revival that began with the destruction of idols.

Dustin, 4, has another version of what we can learn from Gideon: "I learned you don't have to hit or fight. You just smash the jars and show the light. Then you win!"

Add 300 trumpets, and you've got the picture. God's battle plan for Gen. Gideon has to be one of the most unusual in all of military history. The only rival plans are the conquest of Jericho and the defeat of Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea.

Gideon and his 32,000 men were outnumbered by more than four to one. God told Gideon he had too many in his outnumbered army. Gideon announced that if anyone was scared, he could go home. Twenty-two thousand soldiers hit the road. God ran the numbers again. Still too many.

Next came the etiquette test. If you drink like a dog, you could stay. But if you get on your knees to drink from the water, start packing. Read it for yourself in the Book of Judges, chapter seven. Gen. Gideon was left with 300 dog-faced soldiers, or soldiers who drank like dogs.

Ashley, 8, explains the way God does math: "God didn't want Gideon to have too many people because they would all brag."

God knows that men are posers. Often, they choose machismo rather than humility that finds its strength in God. God reduced their numbers and crafted a battle plan that would leave no doubt about the source of their victory.

"You can learn from this that you can do anything through God," says Marshall, 11.

God has a way of taking something small and doing something big.

People without God have a way of taking something big and doing something small.

Remember David and Goliath? It was small versus big. Don't forget the widow's two mites (Luke 21:1-4). Jesus said it was a small amount of money, but a big-time reward in God's kingdom because she gave all she had.

Today, many churches and Christians approach service to God with a public relations mentality. Everything must be huge, splashy and well-funded.

Gideon didn't graduate from West Point. The angel of the Lord found him hiding from enemy forces in a wine press threshing wheat. The poor guy was just trying to make some bread without someone stealing it.

"The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" said the angel of the Lord to Gideon. I fully expect the next verse to read, "You talkin' to me?"

In the ensuing dialogue, we learn that God is the angel of the Lord. And only God can cause us to be truly courageous when we're scared out of our wits.

Think about this: God specializes in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Almost 2,000 years ago, all the forces of hell assembled against a man crucified between two thieves. On Sunday morning, Jesus conquered them and the greatest enemy of all: death.

Memorize this truth: "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12).

Ask this question: Does God want to use you to overcome something very difficult?

Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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