What Are The Odds?

Aug. 11

Read: Judges 7

What Are The Odds?

“The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ “ (v.2)

The Lord is constantly working against the odds. He does this because of how prone we are to miss his handiwork otherwise. The Lord INTENTIONALLY “stacks the deck” against his people at times so that they may see him work. What is the alternative?: We become duped into thinking we did it on our own and we then become arrogant and “boast” over the Lord. Our default response to blessing and success is to think that WE brought it about by our own strength. The Lord loves us enough to NOT hand us over to this thinking… he loves us enough to set the odds against us.

The greater someone’s abilities and aptitude - the harder it is for them to experience the work of the Lord. They will mistake their success for something that came from themselves. Jesus acknowledges this in the sermon on the mound and the sermon on the plain. (cf. Matt 5-8, Luke 6:20-49) This is the “blessing” that is in store for the weak, the hungry, the last who shall be made first - the avoidance of arrogance and the experience of the Lord and his provision! For this reason, we should REJOICE when the odds become stacked against us… it means that the LORD is working and about to show up BIG TIME.

Once again we see, this does not mean we are immune to fear. The Lord understands it is not easy to go against the odds. He has made provision for his children in the face of fear. Look at what he says to Gideon: “That same night the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid… go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened…” (v. 9-11) The Lord knows it can be scary when the odds are against you. The Lord knows that he has asked his children to do hard things. The Lord is WILLING and ABLE to “strengthen your hands” when you feel like you can’t do what he has asked of you. God works through a miraculous dream to affirm and encourage Gideon.

The enemy will always spin opposition as an example of the Lord being set against you - his child. This is simply not true. The fact of the matter is that God is an “against all odds” sort of God. He WANTS us to be able to experience and see his provision and power… so he calls us into the unlikely so that it is made clear. If it were not so - we would “boast of ourselves” over the Lord! The greater the gifts, abilities, and resources that the Lord has entrusted to you… the greater the likelihood of you taking matters into your own hands and boasting! This means you need greater odds AGAINST you at times so that you will be reminded of who the Lord is. Every time the Lord sets the odds against you, think of this - it is a vote of confidence… It is him telling you he loves you enough not to give you over to arrogance and he wants you to be able to experience his work. I know that every single one of you reading this can think of a time you felt this way… some of you may feel it right NOW. Do not let the enemy pounce on you and make you feel despair. This is a chance to watch the Lord work. What are the things that you are prone to “boast about over God” because deep down you think that YOU made it happen? Are you brave enough to ask the Lord to take that arrogance for you? It may mean facing some tough odds! *Are you afraid of what lies ahead? Ask the Lord what you should do… he will send you to hear / experience HIS work to “strengthen your hand” and give you the courage you need. (cf. v. 9-18) The people of God have ALWAYS been an “against all odds” sort of people! Love you guys. - JDP

* Today I will move my oldest daughter into her college dorm. I am overwhelmed and frankly afraid… afraid of change, afraid of the unknown, afraid of all the chaos that is in the world and how it will affect my little girl. I write to you all needing these words more than ever. Thank you for your patience this summer as we have traveled to some remote places. This meant that devotions were a little more sporadic than normal. It is good to be back home! I covet your prayers for my family as we navigate this new season. I am thankful for God's work and his loving me enough to “stack the deck against me” at times. I just wanted to share with you all these emotions… Thanks for reading! - Josh