too many

Judges 7:2&3

2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand."

With GOD Less is More! Too often you and I see God's plan the same way the Apostle Peter did. And, in our ignorance and out of our hubris we question GOD? CHRIST demands self denial which is patterned after His own sacrifice, in becoming man emptied Himself and came to walk among His creation and be crucified for all people of all time. This should inspire us to be like John the Baptizer and very publicly and very loudly say; "He must INCREASE, but I must DECREASE." 

Today we turn to the Old Testament book of Judges. Jewish tradition says the prophet Samuel was the author. The book accounts for the history of Israel before they had a king. The judges did not oversee only legal matters, the way you and I think of a Judge. In this time Judges were military and political leaders as well. One such Judge was Gideon the central figure in this week's reading. 

Although the Holy Bible describes him as TIMID, Gideon is known as the GREATEST of all the 15 judges. Gideon leads in a time when Israel is fighting to reclaim the promise land after returning from four hundred years of slavery in Egypt. Their opposition, the Midianites, outnumbered the Israelites GREATLY! But, GOD wants even LESS Israelites!!

In today's verses GOD begins lowering the number of the Israelites Army; "And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are TOO MANY for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand."