When Less Becomes More
We live in a world today that teaches us that bigger is better. We measure success by numbers. A successful business is one that has more customers. A successful nation has a stronger military. Successful organizations are one’s that has more members, more money, and more influence.
And sometimes, sometimes, if we’re not careful, we can bring that same way of thinking into the Lord's church. We look at congregations with hundreds of members and assume they must be doing something right. We look at a congregation with twenty or thirty members and sometimes wonder whether it can accomplish anything meaningful. And we are even fewer that that here at Axton.
But I want us to consider something this morning. What if the very things we believe make us strong are the things preventing us from depending upon God?
What if having more resources, more people, and more ability sometimes causes us to place our confidence in ourselves rather than in the Lord?
The lesson this morning comes from the seventh chapter of Judges, where we find a story of one of the most remarkable military victories recorded in the Old Testament. It is the account of Gideon and his three hundred men.
What makes this story remarkable is not simply that three hundred Israelites defeated an enormous enemy army. No, what makes it remarkable is that God deliberately reduced Gideon's army to 300 BEFORE sending him into battle.
God looked at an army that was already badly outnumbered and declared that it was too large. Think about that.
The enemy was overwhelming. The danger was real and the odds, well, they were pretty terrible as well.
And God said, in effect, "Gideon, you've got too many soldiers." Why? Because God wanted Israel to understand something that we desperately need to understand today: Victory does not come from the strength of the instrument. Victory comes from the power of the One who uses it.
I. God's Ways Are Not Always Man's Ways
“1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, 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.
Judges 7:1–3
So we see as we begin Judges chapter 7, Gideon has assembled an army of 32,000 men. Now, 32,000 soldiers might sound like a formidable fighting force. But consider the enemy they were facing. Verse 12 tells us the Midianites along with an assortment of other tribes were “thick as locusts” and their camels could not be counted any easier than trying to count the sand on the seashore. Later in chapter 8 we’re given numbers from which we can estimate the enemies strength at being closer to 135,000 soldiers.
32,000 Israelites to face an army of 135,000! The enemy was over four times the size of the Israelites. But Jehovah didn’t like those numbers. He tells Gideon in 7:2 that “you have too many men.” Imagine that! The enemy is four times the number of your own forces and God tells you ‘you have too many men!’
If we had been advising Gideon, what would we have told him?
We might have said, "Gideon, you need more men, better weapons, reinforcements and to strengthen your defenses."
But listen to what God says in Judges 7:2:
"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’”
Judges 7:2
Too many! God was not concerned that Gideon had too few men to win. He was concerned that Gideon had too many men to recognize who had given them the victory.
The problem wasn’t military strength. The problem was pride. God knew the hearts of His people. He knew that if 32,000 men defeated the Midianites, Israel might begin congratulating itself.
They might say, "Look what we accomplished! Look how strong we are! Look at our military greatness!" And they would forget the God who had delivered them.
So, what did God do? He instructed Gideon to announce that anyone who was afraid could return home.
22,000 men left. 22,000! Now remember he had started off with 32,000. In one announcement, Gideon lost more than two-thirds of his army. He was left with 10,000 men.
Now, brethren, imagine being Gideon at that moment. Imagine watching twenty-two thousand soldiers gather their belongings and walk away.
Imagine looking toward the enemy camp and knowing that the Midianites still had their enormous army. Gideon surely must have wondered how he could possibly win. But God was not finished reducing the Israelite army.
The lesson for us
You see, sometimes God allows us to experience circumstances that expose the limitations of our own strength. We may face a problem we cannot solve no matter how much money we throw at it. We may encounter a difficulty our intelligence just can’t overcome. Or maybe experience a trial our physical strength can’t endure. In those moments, we discover how much we need God.
Solomon tells us in Proverbs 3:5–6:
"5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Notice that Solomon does not tell us to stop thinking. He tells us not to lean upon our own understanding. There is a difference between using the abilities God has given us and placing our confidence entirely in those abilities.
The Christian should use wisdom, preparation, knowledge, and diligence. But beneath all of those things must be an unwavering dependence upon God.n And that brings us to the second lesson.
II. God Is More Concerned With Faithfulness Than Numbers
Text: Judges 7:4–8
After 22,000 men departed, Gideon had 10,000 soldiers remaining. Surely that would be acceptable. Wouldn’t you think?
But then God said in verse 4: "There are still too many men."
If I were in Gideon’s place, I know my mouth would be hanging open in disbelief! You mean I have to reduce the number again!
God instructed Gideon to bring the men down to the water, where He would separate them. Some men drank by bringing water to their mouths with their hands. Others knelt down to drink.
God selected the three hundred men who lapped water from their hands. The remaining 9,700 were sent home. Gideon now had only three hundred soldiers. Consider the numbers.
Gideon's army began with 32,000. Then after the first culling he was left with10,000 fighting men. But it took one final draw down of men to satisfy the Lord. 300 men. That was it. Gideon had an army that was 99.78% smaller than the Midianite armies.
Percentage of original army remaining 0.9375%. Imagine that! A full 99% of Gideon's original army had been dismissed. From our feeble human perspective, that could be seen as madness.
But from God's perspective, the army was now exactly the size He intended, that he wanted..
We should be careful about something here. Scripture tells us how God separated these men, but it doesn’t explicitly tell us that the three hundred were chosen because they were more watchful, more courageous, or better soldiers.
Those are explanations people sometimes suggest, but the text does not tell us that. What it does tell us is that God Himself determined who would go into battle. And the number He selected was three hundred.
What does this teach the church?
We need to remember that the strength of a congregation cannot be measured simply by attendance. Now, please don’t misunderstand me. We want the church to grow. We want the pews to be filled with souls.
Acts 2:47 tells us that the Lord added to the church those who were being saved.
We should be evangelistic. We should reach the lost. We should want every seat in the building filled with people who desire to hear and obey the gospel.
But numerical growth and spiritual faithfulness are not necessarily the same thing. A congregation can have a thousand members and still be spiritually weak.
It can have ten members and be devoted to the teaching of God's Word, prayer, worship, benevolence, and evangelism.
Consider the church at Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8 which JR preached on a few Sundays ago. Jesus said in Revelation 3:8:
"8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word, and have not denied my name.”
Revelation 3:8
Jesus acknowledged their little strength. But He also commended their faithfulness. They had kept His Word and had not denied His name. That’s the kind of congregation we should desire to be.
Not merely a large congregation or a wealthy one and not a congregation that impresses the community. But a congregation that keeps the Word of Christ. A church does not become faithful because it is large, and conversely, it does not become unfaithful because it is small.
Our responsibility is to obey the Lord and labor faithfully in His kingdom. The results belong to Him.
III. God Understands Our Fears and Provides Encouragement
Text: Judges 7:9–15
Now we come to a part of this account of Gideon that I find especially encouraging. We sometimes imagine the great people of faith in Scripture as though they were never frightened.
You know, we picture Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, and Gideon as men who never doubted, never hesitated, and never experienced fear. But Scripture paints a much more realistic picture.
These were human beings. They had weaknesses and faced uncertainties. Sometimes needed reassurance. And Gideon was no exception.
In Judges 6, Gideon had already asked God for signs involving the fleece which he laid on the ground. And now, in chapter 7, God tells Gideon that He has delivered the Midianites into his hand. But God also recognizes that Gideon may still be afraid.
Listen to Judges 7:10–11:
"10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp."
Judges 7:10-11
What a remarkable demonstration of God's patience. God didn’t tell Gideon that fear automatically disqualified him from service. Instead, He provided an opportunity for Gideon's faith to be strengthened.
Gideon and his servant Phurah went down near the enemy camp where they overhear a Midianite soldier telling another man about a dream. And in the dream, a loaf of barley bread rolled into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and overturned it.
The other soldier interpreted the dream as a sign that God had delivered Midian into Gideon's hand. Imagine Gideon hearing that! He had entered the area fearful and uncertain and now he hears the enemy acknowledging that God was going to give Israel the victory. What do you think Gideon did then?
Well, in verse 15 it tells us that when he heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshipped. Before he even returned to organize his men, before the battle began, before a single victory had been won, Gideon worshipped God.
That is significant. Fear does not have to prevent obedience
Brethren, have you ever been afraid to do something you knew was right? Maybe you were afraid to talk to a friend about the gospel or afraid to stand for biblical truth when others disagreed.
Maybe you were afraid to admit you were wrong about something or possibly you were afraid to make a difficult change in your life.
Fear is a very real human emotion. But the important question is not whether we ever experience fear. The important question is whether we allow fear to keep us from obeying God.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul writes:
"7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
The Christian is not promised a life without frightening circumstances. But we ARE given reasons to trust God in the midst of those circumstances. Think for a moment about the apostle Paul. He endured imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, rejection, and persecution.
Yet through all that he was able to write:
"13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
Paul was not claiming that he could accomplish anything he might personally desire. In the context of Philippians 4, he was explaining that Christ strengthened him to endure both abundance & need. That very same principle applies to all of us.
God may not remove every difficult circumstance. He may not eliminate every fear. But through His Word He gives us reason to remain faithful. And sometimes, sometimes the first step toward overcoming fear is simply doing what Gideon did.
Listen to what God has said. Believe His promises, and then acting upon them.
IV. Victory Requires Obedience, Even When God's Instructions Seem Unusual
Text: Judges 7:16–22
Now we come to the point in the story about the battle itself.
Gideon has three hundred men. The Midianites are spread throughout the valley in enormous numbers. And Gideon begins distributing weapons. But these weapons are definitely NOT the weapons which we might expect.
He divides his men into three companies and gives each man a trumpet, an empty pitcher, and a torch inside the pitcher.
Think about that for a moment.
If you were preparing for battle at that time against a vastly superior enemy, what would you want? A sword? Spear? A shield? Probably a bow?
But Gideon's plan centered on trumpets, pitchers, and torches.
Now, these objects were not inherently powerful. A trumpet could not defeat an enemy soldier. A clay pitcher was not a formidable weapon and a torch could provide light, but it could not by itself destroy an army.
Yet these were the instruments involved in the victory God had promised. At the appointed time, the three companies surrounded the enemy camp.
They blew their trumpets. They broke their pitchers and held their torches. And they cried out: "The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon."
The caused the enemy camp to be thrown into confusion.
Verse 22 tells us that the Lord caused the enemy soldiers to turn their swords against one another. The Midianites fled. And Gideon's three hundred men witnessed the beginning of a tremendous victory.
But let’s not overlook something very, very important. The victory was God's work, God promised the victory, buy Gideon's men still had to obey. The men still had to take their positions and carry their trumpets. They still had to break their pitchers, raise their torches and do what they had been instructed to do.
They couldn’t say, "God has promised the victory, so there’s no reason for us to do anything." They acted in and on faith.
Faith and obedience belong together
This principle runs throughout Scripture. Consider Noah. God told Noah that He would destroy the earth with a flood. But God also instructed Noah to build an ark.
"7a By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."
Hebrews 11:7a
Noah believed God and because he believed God, he obeyed.
Consider the Israelites at Jericho. God promised Joshua that the city would be delivered into Israel's hands. But He also instructed the people to march around the city according to a particular pattern. The walls did not fall because marching was some extraordinary military strategy. They fell because God acted as His people responded in faith.
"30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days."
Hebrews 11:30
Or consider Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5. Naaman, a powerful Syrian commander who suffered from the horrible disfiguring disese of leprosy. We all know the story from Sunday school as children. Elisha instructed Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River.
Naaman initially became angry. He expected something more impressive. He expected Elisha to perform some great ceremony. He questioned why the rivers of Damascus were not better than the waters of Israel. But eventually, eventually Naaman obeyed.
And the result of his obedience? He was cleansed.
Now, what do these accounts have in common?
In each case, God's instructions may have seemed unusual from our low human perspective. But the blessing was connected to trusting and obeying God.
But let’s apply this principle to salvation
That very same principle helps us to understand the gospel of Christ. The New Testament teaches us salvation is made possible, after we are baptized, through God’s grace, not through mere human merit.
"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
We can’t earn salvation, purchase forgiveness or perform enough good deeds to place God in our debt. Salvation is only possible because of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on our behalf.
But the fact that salvation is by grace does not mean that God has given mankind no conditions to obey. Jesus said in Mark 16:16:
"16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Mark 16:16
On the day of Pentecost, when the people asked what they should do, Peter answered:
"38 …Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 2:38
And in Acts 22:16, Ananias told Saul:
"16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name."
Acts 22:16
There is no saving power in water all by itself. Just as there was no inherent power in Gideon's pitchers and trumpets, the water of baptism is not magical. The power to save belongs to God through the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
First Peter 3:21 connects baptism with salvation and explains that it is not the removal of the physical dirt, but an appeal to God for a clean conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We are not saved because our obedience earns forgiveness. We obey because we believe the One who offers forgiveness.
Faith that trusts God is faith that takes His Word seriously. And that is a lesson Gideon's army teaches us beautifully.
V. The Greatest Danger Is Taking Credit for What God Has Done
Text: Judges 7:2, 22
I want us to return for a moment to the reason God reduced Gideon's army. Remember what God said in verse 2:
"2b... or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’"
Judges 7:2b
This was the issue from the beginning. God wanted to prevent Israel from taking credit for His work. Brethren, pride is one of the most dangerous enemies of spiritual faithfulness. It is dangerous because pride can disguise itself as accomplishment.
A man can become successful in business and begin to believe that everything he possesses is the result of his own intelligence. Or a person may develop great knowledge of Scripture and begin looking down upon those who know less.
It could also be that a congregation grows too rapidly and begins to believe its success is entirely the result of its programs, its leadership, or its methods. Paul poses a question for us to heed in 1 Corinthians 4:7:
"7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
1 Corinthians 4:7
What do we possess, what could we possess that ultimately does not depend upon God's goodness?
Our life? Our abilities? Possibly the opportunities that pass our way? Our salvation?
James 1:17a reminds us:
"17a Every good and perfect gift is from above..."
James 1:17a
This doesn’t mean that our human effort is not important because scripture repeatedly teaches the value of diligence and faithful labor for the Lord. But we must NEVER confuse the instrument with the source of the blessing.
Paul expressed this beautifully:
"6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Paul planted. Apollos watered. Both worked and both had responsibilities. But it is God who gives the increase.
An application for every congregation
Suppose a congregation has a gospel meeting. Several people obey the gospel. We should certainly rejoice and be thankful for the preacher who presented the message and appreciate the members who invited their neighbors. But above all, we must give the glory to God, after all it is His gospel that saves.
"16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..."
Romans 1:16
The power isn’t in the eloquence of the preacher, or the attractiveness of the building. The power is not in the popularity of the congregation. The power is in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And our responsibility is to proclaim that gospel faithfully.
VI. God Can Accomplish Great Things Through Ordinary People
Text: Judges 7:19–25; Hebrews 11:32–34
There is one final lesson from our text in Judges I want us to consider. Gideon's three hundred men were not described as extraordinary warriors. We are not told that they possessed remarkable physical strength or that they were the greatest military minds in Israel. They were simply the men God selected for this particular task. And through their obedience, God accomplished something remarkable. This principle appears repeatedly throughout the Bible.
God often accomplishes great things through people the world considers insignificant.
Think about David. Samuel came to anoint a king from the sons of Jesse, David was not even initially presented with his brothers. He was out tending sheep. Yet God chose David.
Think about Peter and John. Acts 4:13 tells us that the Jewish rulers perceived them to be unlearned and ordinary men. Yet those same rulers marveled at their boldness and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
And of course, consider Paul. He described his own weaknesses and the sufficiency of God's grace. Paul declared he would glory in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ might rest upon him. What a powerful lesson.
God does not require us to be famous or wealthy or to possess extraordinary talents. What He does require is for us to be faithful.
What can one Christian accomplish?
Maybe you’re thinking, "I'm just one person. What difference can I possibly make?" Your talent may not be preaching before hundreds of people. But you can teach one person the gospel.
You may not be able to give thousands of dollars to the work of the church. But you can give generously according to your ability.
You may not be able to travel to a foreign country as a missionary. But you can encourage a struggling brother or sister.
Never underestimate what God can accomplish through faithful service.
"16 In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
Notice the purpose. Not that people would glorify us, but that they would glorify God. We may think our light is small, but even a small light is valuable in a dark place.
And when Christians faithfully serve God, their influence can extend far beyond what they realize.
VII. The Battle Belongs to the Lord, but We Must Remain Faithful
Before we conclude, there is one important distinction we need to make. Gideon's victory was a specific promise God made to Israel in a particular historical situation.
We should not assume that every Christian will experience a miraculous victory over every earthly problem the same way.
God has not promised every illness will be cured, or every financial difficulty will disappear. He hasn’t promised every undertaking we attempt will succeed. Faithfulness does not guarantee an easy life. Jesus warned His disciples they would experience tribulation. But He also gave them reason for courage.
John 16:33 says:
"33b ...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
The Christian's ultimate victory is not the defeat of an earthly army; it is victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.
"57 But thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57
Notice what Paul says immediately afterward in verse 58:
"58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
I Corinthians 15:58
There is OUR responsibility. Be steadfast, unmovable and abound in the work of the Lord.
Our confidence in Christ's victory should move us toward greater faithfulness, not spiritual inactivity. The same God who calls us to trust Him also calls us to serve Him.
Conclusion: So What Is Your Three Hundred?
As we bring this lesson to a close, I want us to picture Gideon one more time, standing with those three hundred men. Before him is an enemy army of overwhelming size. Behind him are thousands of soldiers who have been sent home.
In his hands are the instruments of a most unusual battle plan and the only reason he can move forward with confidence is that God has spoken.
Now consider your own life. Perhaps you’re facing something that seems overwhelming or you feel outnumbered by your problems.
Perhaps you feel that you lack the resources, the strength, or the ability to accomplish what needs to be done or it could be you look at the challenges facing the church today and wonder how a relatively small group of Christians can make any meaningful difference in a world that increasingly rejects biblical truth.
Just remember Gideon. God did not need thirty-two thousand soldiers, or ten thousand. God chose to accomplish His purpose through three hundred. The reason was simple.
He wanted His people to understand the victory belonged to Him. There are 3 questions I would like each of us to carry home today.
First, are you trusting God, or are you trusting yourself? When difficulties arise, where do you place your confidence? Do you seek God's will through His Word, or do you depend entirely upon your own understanding?
Second, are you willing to obey God even when His instructions challenge your expectations? It’s an easy thing to obey when God's commands agree with what we already want to do. The real test of faith comes when obedience requires us to surrender our preferences, our pride, or our comfort.
Third, are you willing to serve God with whatever abilities and opportunities He has given you? You may not have the talents of another Christian. You may not have the resources of another congregation. But you can be faithful with what you have. And that is what God asks of you.
Gideon's story is not ultimately a lesson about military strategy. It is a lesson about faith, humility, obedience and it is a reminder that God deserves the glory for what He accomplishes.
The world may tell us that success requires greater numbers, greater resources, and greater human strength. But Judges chapter 7 reminds us those things are no substitute for trusting and obeying the Lord.
The question isn’t whether we are strong enough to accomplish God's will without Him. The question is do we trust Him enough to obey His will. That’s a question each of us must answer.
Remember the lesson of Gideon. God's people are called to trust Him and obey His Word.
And the lesson is yours.
Comments