Me + God Against All Odds

There’s a book in the Old Testament that holds an intriguing story, teaching a very powerful truth: When God is leading, the odds never matter. The plot includes many bad choices, generational consequences, great loss, desperation and impossible odds. However it also teaches us about the powerful, far-reaching grace of God. The book of Judges through Gideon’s story showcases seeds of hope that grow into freedom and restoration for man and his family (as well as a people) as they learn to follow the heart of God.

We need this story of Gideon because there won’t be a shortage of seasons and life events that are seemingly impossible for us to succeed in. We need this story because not only are the odds typically stacked against us, but they tend to feel a mile high. I’m believing you want to accomplish incredible things for the kingdom of God. You likely don’t want to sit down and settle for less. I believe you want to engage life in the abundance of Christ. You’ve said “yes” to following Him and as you do, you will be called upon to engage with God and with others, all the while expecting the miraculous hand of God to meet you at the end of your rope. You and I both chose most likely because of a desire to be useful in the hands of God. How we answer God’s call as we walk at His side is the question. Gideon’s personal walk gives us insight into this.

To be truthful, we should all know that whatever God calls us to do and/or to be in His name will require more than we possess. In fact, the work will require God to move on our behalf.

Do you know the call of God on your life? You may not know everything but you do know some things. Callings are made up of relationships we are responsible for and actions laid out before us. Examples from my own life include being a loving husband, a father to my two children, a Pastor to a growing and thriving church we planted 10 years ago that started with about 200 people and $3,750,000 debt from day one. (That’s an awesome story I don’t have time to tell). It has also included so much battling—12 emotional years of infertility, a 16-month public fight with cancer, the struggles of planting a church that a mentor of mine said would fail if I led it, and working hard to publish the first album of worship from our church.

Each area of influence has required my best, yet I would not have gotten through any of it without a move of God. I’m never enough for the task, but ME + GOD is always more than enough. You have a call that is at the forefront of your heart as you are reading this. You might be thinking what I’ve thought and what Gideon certainly did, “The odds are against me, ever succeeding. Why should I dare to take the first step?” The answer is plain to see—When God is leading, the odds never matter.

Let’s remember that we need this story because we will often feel the weight of the odds stacked against us as we step into our God-given callings. Though you feel it’s impossible, the truth never changes: YOU + GOD is more than enough. You signed up to follow Him, and that comes with an expectation of His miraculous hand meeting you when you can go no further.

Gideon’s story is our encouragement in those difficult seasons. We remember, when God is leading, the odds never matter because…

What is Gideon’s story? Judges, chapters 6–8. There was peace in the land and the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, so God pulled His hand of protection from them and the Midianites were then able to raid them and stripped their land bare seven years in a row. They cried out to God and He sent the angel of the Lord to a fearful, ordinary man named Gideon who was threshing wheat in a winepress because that is the last place the enemy would look for him. The angel says “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!…Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” Gideon has questions, but agrees to step into this call on his life. God then gives his next steps: “Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. Then build an altar to the Lord your God.” Gideon does exactly what God has made clear but at nighttime, because he was afraid. The people recognize Gideon now as one who stood up to the god Baal and won. God then calls Gideon to lead his people to defeat Midian and their allies, but not before God whittles the army of 32,000 down to 300 men. This is when Gideon succumbs to fear again and asks God to use the “fleece” to bring clarity about the battle. The troops rally around Gideon and at the last minute Gideon is struck with fear for the third time in this story. God shows him patience and mercy by allowing Gideon to overhear enemy soldiers discussing a God-given dream that revealed their ultimate demise by God’s hand. Gideon with confidence goes into battle with an army of 300 men and watches God move. The Midianites literally destroy themselves. It was the move of God on the other side of Gideon’s obedience. Not one person could have expected it, but God knew all along. Gideon fulfills his calling as the rescuer of Israel. (A lot more happened in this story, so if you haven’t read it go back and fill in the blanks! Don’t forget to look for the really huge loaf of bread, but for our purposes this synopsis will do.)

1. God is going to do what God is going to do. …so why not use you? Nothing will stop or even slow down what’s in the heart of God to do. In chapter 6 of Judges, God came to rescue Israel. He came to Gideon looking for someone who would say “I’m available.” It does make me wonder if Gideon was actually first on the list or maybe further down the list? People say “no” to God often, but that doesn’t mean He or His plans are derailed. I assure you He is never frustrated to accomplish His plans. When I hear the whispers of God through His written Word, when I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to move forward on a difficult task, I remember He will not be stopped. He doesn’t have to use me, but if I’m available, He will. Gideon was nobody special, just like me. He wasn’t even a hero; he was afraid and hiding. He did make himself available to God though…and God made Himself available to Gideon.

2. Gideon was concerned about clarity more than the odds against him. Throughout the story, Gideon digs into the details. We don’t find him staring long and hard at the odds against him. We don’t find him devising plans and arguments with God for why something should not or cannot be done. We do, however, find him digging for clarity. He gathers confidence by gaining clarity. Clarity about what? Clarity about his calling, next steps and when to take those next steps. Following Christ, we can expect to encounter difficulties or even seemingly impossible circumstances. But that’s when we’re encouraged to look to God’s clarity instead of the odds. Odds are, the addiction will not go away, but God clearly wants you to be free. Odds are, the marriage is lost, but God clearly wants it to thrive. Odds are, churches are closing their doors, but God clearly wants them to win souls. Odds are, my co-worker is not reaching out to God, but God clearly wants me to be a light to him/her. Odds are, I am not enough to fulfill what God has called me to, but God has clearly called me anyway.

It’s time to stop paying so much attention to any odds against you and focus on digging into time with God for clarity. He is patient and He is kind and He always wants you to succeed. If you have next steps then take them and watch God move when only He can. If your next steps aren’t clear, dig in to Him until He makes them clear.

3. Gideon was losing confidence and God was eager to give it back to him. When Gideon doubted the call of the angel, God reassured him. When Gideon feared for his life to tear down the altar of Baal, God protected him. When Gideon lost confidence and begged God to speak through the fleece, God spoke. When Gideon feared to enter the battle with 300 men against many thousands upon thousands, God pulled back the curtain. He allowed him to hear the doomsday dream planted in the hearts of the Midianites. God was eager to give Gideon’s confidence back to him.

Often I feel guilt when I lose my confidence. I become fearful to even express my lack of faith to God. I am so much like Gideon, in that, he could see what God called him to accomplish, or called him to be, in front of his men. He knew it demanded more than what he was on his own. I, like Gideon, and most likely you too, recognize I’m not enough.

God’s callings on our lives will always demand more than what we bring. I cannot be the father I know my son and daughter deserve on my own strength and abilities. I cannot lead the church in my own strength and wit! There are definite moments that require God’s move and the fear those moments bring often cause a slow drain in confidence from me. I have learned from Gideon to trust that when I make myself available to God in that calling, He is eager to give my confidence back to me. My callings will always require God’s move at one point or another. The key for me is to exercise my faith believing God will move at just the right time.

4. Gideon was included in the work of God because he believed Him. It’s incredible to think that Gideon was a Baal-worshipping pagan when God graciously reached out to him in chapter 6. The only reason we know Gideon’s name is because he believed God. He embraced God’s vision for his life. He did not deserve it and certainly had not earned it, and yet we see this invitation, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Gideon was no more a hero in this moment than you and I were when God came to us the first time. Yet a hero Gideon became in the next three chapters, one step of obedience at a time. He had to say “yes” first. He had to follow through in obedience to his next steps, which was to subdue his own heart and his own home. God was faithful to make his steps clear. Before God would use Gideon for the really big thing, Gideon had to be obedient in the smaller things. Follow through with what He has already made clear to you in the smaller things first.

I know you want to accomplish incredible things for the kingdom of God, but you will never be enough…on your own. Gideon’s story reminds us, it isn’t just you. It’s an invitation to join God. The powerful truth to remember is that YOU + GOD is and always will be more than enough, no matter what you face in your day-to-day and as you faithfully step into the call on your life. It’s my hope that Gideon’s inspiring story provides that inspiration and guidance to help you position yourself to live your calling to the full.

Here at this moment, I believe we are better able to answer some important questions.

Do we believe God when He calls us? Can we get clarity about our next steps? Will we be obedient to take those next steps? Will we be honest with God about our need for clarity and confidence? Will we make ourselves available to God to accomplish His incredible things in our generation?

I know it seems like the odds are against us, but let’s remember Gideon’s story and be encouraged—when God is leading, the odds never matter.