Selfless and Edification to Victory

Judges 7:2-3

2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave and go home.'" Twenty-two thousand of them went home, leaving only ten thousand who were willing to fight. (NLT)

Now, buttoned up in Judges 7:2 we can see that the LORD points out, "If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength." Therefore, it is clear for us to see how God thinks, works, and foretells salvation - that through salvation it is nothing of our own (our own strength) which saves us, but the strength of his Son Jesus and the cross; how he enters into our hearts (our lives) if we just trust and believe in him. Next, if we read on God continues to say, "Whoever is timid or afraid may leave and go home." This to me demonstrates the condition of the heart. There are always constant pressures around us that scare, distract, and ultimately bring us down. I am reminded immediately about what Dr. Mason said during last weeks Sunday school lesson. He was reminding us about how these situations in our lives should lower and humble us for the sake of reawakening His power and ourselves to God and to persevere, endure, and continue to trust in Him. How true, but also quickly forgotten. We must commemorate and cherish that Satan has no control; he cannot intercede because Jesus already inhabits our hearts (the hearts of those who believe in him). Although, we can be tempted..., but 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it"(ESV). I also like the wording of the NIV translation, "he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

It is my prayer that we go away refreshed knowing that with temptation there is a way out so that we can stand up under it. Knowing again that "with the temptation [God] will always provide the way of escape" and that we can learn to endure through those times of temptation because there is such a path, a way out, and an escape. Let ourselves seek it as a challenge or test more so than temptation for the means of strengthening our faith, and the escape is through it. May we meditate on these passages for our own sake and for the sake of others; so we can better hold these truths to our hearts and for the purpose of sharing them with others and communicating the Gospel.