God told Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the Midianites. You’d think God, knowing the size of the task, would supernaturally rally the troops and then equip them with the latest in body armor and high-tech weaponry. At least that’s what human logic would assume. But the Divine doesn’t often give human logic a second glance.

In this story, God looked at Gideon’s army and said, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.” And so the whittling process began. The troops initially numbered 32,000. God dropped that number to 300. Then He equipped them with rams’ horns, clay jars and blazing torches. And that’s how the victory was won.

Human logic and God’s methods often collide. Our nature feels secure when things make sense, when we can formulate plans and see how they’ll work. But God’s methods don’t fit our mould. He seems to delight in the impossible, even the ridiculous. And then He expects us to trust Him in the process! How audacious is that?

Why does God use curious methods to accomplish His purposes? Because He gets the recognition when there’s no human explanation for victory. Besides, our faith grows when we see His power at work. And unbelievers take notice. They ask questions. This paves the way for conversation about spiritual things.

Sometimes God’s methods make me squirm. But truth be told, I’d rather serve a God who embraces the impossible as opportunities to prove His power than a God limited to methods that my finite mind can understand. How about you?

Have you seen God using curious methods to accomplish His purposes in/through you?

Mighty hero?

I wonder if Gideon did a double-take. In any case, the Lord then gave him a special mission: “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

I’ll bet our mighty hero did more than a simple double-take when he heard those words. Perhaps Gideon nearly choked before stammering, “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

Can you see his knees quake? Can you hear his voice tremble? The fear of inadequacy had nearly consumed our friend. Who me? I can’t do what You’re asking me to. I’m the least of the weakest. Please, choose someone else.

I love God’s simple response: “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

That’s the same promise God gave to Joshua and Moses, and more. “I will be with you. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. Just go in the strength you have and do what I’ve called you to do. I will be with you, and that’s all you need.”

Are you facing a God-given task or dream that looks utterly impossible? So impossible, in fact, that you hesitate even mentioning it to a friend lest you look like a lunatic? So impossible that you’ve brushed it off as a crazy thought, one that’s not worth pursuing lest you erase anyone’s doubts about your mental well-being or lack thereof?

If it’s God-breathed, then do it. Take the first step. Believe God for the impossible. Go ahead, be a mighty hero.