As I worked through the very familiar story of Gideon, something fresh hit me. I can't say I never saw this before. Perhaps I did. But if so, I had forgotten it. When we talk about the Gideon story, we make a big deal about God whittling down the number of fighting men. He started out with 32,000 men and ended up with 300. That against an army whose camels (excluding the men who did not have camels) were so numerous they could not be counted.
Actually, a couple things hit me here: First, and this has been noted many times: God said he could not defeat the Midianites and their allies with 32,000 men. Well, technically God could have done so. But he chose not to because that goes against a major operating principle he holds. Specifically, God only works a miracle when he will get the credit. When the odds against God are so great that the only way a positive outcome can be reached is with his help, then--and only then--will he act. This principle guides me when I pray for miracles. I ask questions like: "Have we humans exhausted our resources?" "Is there nothing else that can be done to solve, resolve or overcome the problem?" When it becomes clear that unless God acts nothing good will come, then I can pray in faith that God will act--if it is his will.
But the second thing that hit me (and this was the new or renewed thought) was this: Gideon's men did not actually attack the Midianite camp. Have you noticed that before? They simply stood on the hillside around the enemy and blew their trumpets and smashed their jars and held up their torches and shouted. Then, when the people had done what they could, God acted. He threw fear into the hearts of the Midianites, et al. The rest of the story involves the Israelites chasing and catching the enemy. But God had already acted and brought the miracle.
What do I need God to do in my life today? (I know the answer to that for myself. What about you?) Have I truly done all in my power? If so, am I looking for God to step in and do the impossible?
What do you think?
me with my beautiful, wonderful (bw)
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4 comments:
I struggle with the idea that "God only works a miracle when he will get the credit", or that God only acts when all other resources have been exhausted. I would affirm that "unless God acts nothing good will come", however that's a different matter. For the first, I wonder if it's a matter of our acknowledging God's movement or miraculous deeds. Small miracles abound, I think, and the mysterious wonders of the spirit are still present for those with eyes to see.
Perhaps its only when we've exhausted our own resources and come to the tragic realization that we do indeed have limits that we then look, or think of looking, to God for his help. The lesson, it seems, is for us to more quickly recognize our limits, ask for God's favor, and be more ready to see his movement in our lives and in those we encounter.
What you point out about the Midianites not actually attacking is striking in this context, because what exactly was the miracle but, as you said, a change in the hearts of those men. No less miraculous is the change in the heart of man when it encounters the risen Christ. All the blustering and blowing outside of that moment is of little use. All that may lead us astray or call us home is at once set in a new context - that of restored life from and through death. When we recognize our mortality (our limits, so to speak), much as properly do in our baptism and its remembrance, we set ourselves back in the context of life through Christ. That is, in our death, in the end of us, we see God, his restorative power, his unfailing Love toward us and his creation. Then we are in fact empowered by God to move, to act and love on his behalf. And that may be miracle enough.
You are right and thank you for pointing it out. I clearly overstated my point and should not have. I think what I should have said was something like, "God tends to do the impossible when we recognize the impossibility." Do you feel more comfortable with that? Admittedly, even that is not totally accurate, because he does the impossible when we are not even aware of it--e.g., prevenient grace. Still, at least for those of us who claim his name, there is the pattern that as long as we think we can handle the problem ourselves he tends to keep his hands off. Generally, it is not until we admit the impossibility that he steps in to do the impossible, because that is when we can only explain the events as the hand of God.
But bottom line: You are right that I should not have said he "only" works then.
Thank you again.
I assumed as much and I hope my first response didn't sound accusatory, I never think you've gone off the deep end. Usually my comments are rather off the cuff, so please disregard any unintended tone where it appears. The reason I comment is because you've drawn me into conversation, not because of a disagreement. Cheers!
Not to worry. I've never felt any accusatory tone at all from you. I enjoy the give and take: "iron sharpens iron" as the Proverb says.
And I even enjoy some friendly disagreement. So much "discussion" these days requires that everyone agree or come to agreement. But can it then still be called "discussion"?
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