Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Judges 6:11-14, Judges 7:20-22
Israel was choosing to disobey God and worship false gods. This upset God and made Him sad. So, God removed His protection and allowed other nations to invade them. When Israel finally saw their sin and cried out to God for help, He chose Gideon to lead them and help save them from their enemies. For many years, the Israelites would love and obey God for a while but then go back to their sin.
An angel appeared to Gideon and reminded him that God was with him. Gideon asked why God had not yet rescued Israel. The angel told Gideon that God was using him to help rescue Israel.
Gideon gathered the Israelite army of thirty-two thousand men. Then God told Gideon that there were too many soldiers, and most of them needed to be sent home. So, Gideon was left with three hundred soldiers. These three hundred men had to face the Midianite army of one hundred thousand men. God promised to use this small number of men to save Israel.
Gideon and the Israelite army blew horns, and God caused the Midianites to become so confused that they started attacking each other. Without using weapons, Gideon and the small Israelite army defeated the Midianites. This was only possible because of God!
Even though the Israelites had been disobedient, God still loved them. His plan to use Gideon and a small group of men shows us just how much He loves His people, how powerful He is, and that He can do the impossible! If Gideon had gone into battle with all thirty-two thousand of his soldiers, the Israelites would have believed they were powerful enough to rescue themselves. God wanted Israel to know that He is powerful and can do anything.
God didn’t just do impossible things for Gideon and the Israelites. God can do anything for us too. Just like He loved the Israelites, He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to do what was impossible for anyone else—to save us from our sin! Jesus died and came back to life so that when we admit that we’ve disobeyed God, believe in Jesus, and choose to follow Him, He saves us!
What does this story teach us about God’s power?
What are some things that seem impossible to you, but are not impossible for God?
Thank You, God, for Your power. We know that You can do anything, and that You want us to trust You. We love You, and we want to put our trust completely in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.