Minus 22,000 and then some

I know I have posted twice within a 24 hour period, but I just had to get this one off of my heart or Jesus was not going to let my spirit rest. With my former post speaking of my need for sunscreen, my spiritual heartbeat will not leave me alone. I know I just referenced Gideon in ‘Because He said so,’ but hang with me because 1) I LOVE the OT and 2) I will get stuck in a passage for days on end feasting on its riches. It’s just what He gives me the grace to participate in…so I’m creeping along the early parts of Judges. Hence the bond with Gideon lately.

Judges 7:1 – 2: “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. The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.”

Sound familiar? Nope – I don’t mean that the name Jerub-Baal should remind you of your best girlfriend. I am referencing the fact that twenty-two thousand men left Gideon before battle against the Midianites. (Nice timing Lord?!) If you keep reading, you’ll discover that the LORD says in verse 4 that there ‘are still too many (people)’ and leaves a group of only 300 men to join Gideon in fighting the Midianites, further removing those who could have assisted Gideon.

To be blunt and honest, I need you to know that I want Jesus so badly for you that I hope this happens to you if that’s what it takes. I hope your ‘twenty-two thousand ‘men’” are stripped from you so that you will know the LORD your God is God and He alone saves. “In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her... (vs. 1). Deuteronomy 8:16 tells us that the LORD led the Israelites in the wilderness that He might humble them, and that He might test them, to do good for them in the end.

Sweet sister, sometimes the LORD removes all tempting sources of security other than Himself so that He can be your Stronghold and Rock. Sometimes, He graciously removes our bible study leader, friend, parent, or mentor from a moment in our lives to mercifully keep our affections, awe, and applause transfixed on Him alone. Sometimes, He’ll strip away the areas of self-sufficiency, self-dependency, self-provision, and self-confidence in our lives to open our eyes to the fact that He Himself is all we need (I hope He does this always…) and that we are equipped in Him for everything we need for life and godliness. Sometimes, you are forced into a desperate-looking situation because He wants you to be desperate for more of Him.

I want you to know and love Jesus so badly. I want more for you than the current ‘this.’ If it takes a season of the Lord removing the “22,000” other areas of support (even be it wonderful and godly things), I beg you sister to find Him in your ‘Gethsemane.’ Do not believe for one second that the LORD your God has forsaken you when he leaves you with a “300” (which may look like nothing or no one on the outside), He has given you an Audience of One - the LORD. I pray you may find it as a tender invitation from your Redeemer to know Him more. To know His strength, to know His might, to know His glory. To know Him. It’s the privilege of a lifetime dear one and He is beckoning you with a nail-scarred hand to seek His face. It is for you.

Father, may our hearts be a stage for you to come and be glorified upon. Your Name and renown are the desires of our heart. Remove the '22,000' if that's what it takes dear Jesus. For 'Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty...Yours is the dominion...and You exalt Yourself as head over all." We love you Father.