God’s Glory in Our Weakness
MacGyver was easily one of the coolest TV shows of the early 90’s. I still remember being captivated as a kid by each episode's portrayal of good ol’ Mac ingeniously escaping from whatever perilous situation he was in by using the most basic of items. His incredible skills left such an impression on our generation that it even led to the coining of a verb; “To MacGyver something" meaning "to make, form, or repair (something) with what is conveniently on hand." Whether it was diffusing a bomb with a paperclip or creating a bazooka from car parts, it seemed like MacGyver knew how to use anything available to reach his goals.
God is a lot like that. He routinely chooses to use ordinary, everyday people like you and me to accomplish His amazing plans! We may not be the best fit for the job, but that doesn’t impede a God who knows everything and can do anything. Why does He insist on doing it this way? Well, are you more impressed with someone who opens a lock with the key, or with a hairpin? God uses weak vessels because they are the best way to display HIS GLORY!
Let’s briefly zoom in on the story of Gideon from the Old Testament book of Judges.
The year is approximately 1184 BC and Israel is being brutally oppressed by a rival nation called the Midianites. It’s been years of trouble and the Israelites are hiding away in mountains and caves to avoid detection for fear of being killed. In the midst of this desperate national crisis we find our protagonist, Gideon.
So, who is Gideon?
You may recall Israel has 12 tribes. Well, Gideon is a guy from the tribe of Manasseh, the smallest and least significant of all 12 of these tribes, in fact it’s considered a '“half” tribe. The text tells us that of all the clans that make up this little half-tribe, Gideon is from the weakest. It goes further to say that he’s the smallest and weakest in his family. In other words, Gideon is the smallest guy from the weakest clan of the weakest tribe of a nation that is hiding for fear of their lives. Suffice to say Gideon probably wouldn’t be first pick for your kickball team.
Little Gideon is not a super hero and he knows it. He’s busy hiding from the enemy in a wine press while threshing wheat when suddenly an angel shows up and says in effect “God wants to use you to free Israel”. Gideon is a scared and doubtful guy, he doesn’t believe the angel! But after a lot of waffling and testing, we see a big turn in Gideon’s story — doubtful Gideon puts his confidence in God instead of in his own insufficiency. He ends up gathering a small army, the Bible says because “the Spirit of the Lord came upon” him. Now, he’s standing overlooking the Midianites, totally outnumbered, an army that the Bible describes as “thick as locusts”. They couldn’t be counted.
Let’s jump into the text right there.
Judges 7:1 Early in the morning, Gideon and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
“Too many men, Gideon.” God is saying, “You might somehow get the impression YOU were the one doing the miracle here.” I’m sure Gideon was feeling a little confused as more than two-thirds of his army walked way.
4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men….”
God’s not satisfied yet! He goes on to cut the group down to a small fraction of its original power based on how they drank water from a river.
7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
In summary, God pares down Gideon’s little army of 32,000 men to a mini army of 10,000, then to a grade school assembly of 300. That’s less than 1% of what was available originally. And then God takes it one audacious step further and tells them they aren’t allowed to use swords or shields, they’re only allowed trumpets and jars. You probably know the rest of the story. With this piddly little band of brothers, God orchestrates a total victory over the Midianites without a single Israelite casualty. Wow.
Here’s the point I’m making with Gideon…
Look what God can do with so very little. He takes a weak and doubtful guy commanding 300 men with trumpets and routes an enemy the entire nation couldn’t withstand.
Perhaps you think this sort of behavior from God is atypical, that He usually does things a bit differently. Well, consider these other stories:
David the shepherd boy, youngest in his family, not old enough or big enough for battle. By the power of God he wins a war with a sling and a stone.
Moses the child of slaves, a murderer with an anger problem and a speech challenge. By the power of God he becomes the voice of the nation and leads them out from slavery.
Paul the zealous pharisee, christian-killer, jew of jews. By the power of God becomes an apostle of Christ Jesus to all the surrounding non-jewish nations.
Peter, James, Andrew and John — poorly educated fishermen from a disregarded “backwater” area of Israel, young guys without prestige or honor. By the power of God they find themselves fishers of men in the center of God’s redemption plan.
Here’s what I hope you’re catching…
God isn’t asking you to be the best fit for the job.
He’s asking you to be available and to trust Him.
You may feel you are too weak and small and can’t accomplish much of anything on your own — that may very well be true! But there is a truth that is greater than that. It’s the truth that God can do anything through you even still. If God can accomplish great things through imperfect and weak vessels like Gideon, David, Moses, Paul, and the disciples, rest assured he can use you, too! In the hands of our loving, powerful God, weakness is transformed into amazing glory for His namesake.
The New Testament has this to say about it:
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God is inviting you — not to have confidence in yourself — but confidence in His ability, His character, and His love.
Have God-fidence
Reflection time:
Father God, Is there any area of my life where I’m shrinking back due to fear or unbelief? Is there some way you’re asking me to step forward in boldness?
Father God, is there anything that has a stronger influence in my life than you? Please help me to reorder my loyalties.
What one step of “God-fidence” can I take today?