Not By My Own Strength
“Being qualified or “good enough” is never a prerequisite for being used by God.”
Judges 7:1-8a (English Standard Version)
Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred...
Reflection
Some of the leaders recorded in the book of Judges had interesting backgrounds including one fierce, warrior woman named Deborah,[1] a family man with 30 sons and 30 daughters named Ibzan,[2] and a muscle man named Samson who was so strong that he tore up a city gate with his bare hands![3]
An interesting change in leader selection occurred in Judges chapter 6 when God called Gideon, a poor farmer from a weak clan,[4]1 to lead Israel against their enemy, the Midianites. Gideon initially had his doubts about taking up army duties in place of his regular wheat-trade, but he nevertheless marched forward with a skimpy, “special operations” group that was anything but qualified. The result? Gideon and his “lappers” led Israel to freedom from the oppression of the Midianites.
Sometimes, God has to remove the qualifications to show us that only He can do it. As a mid 20-something year-old, I recall being selected to a position that I was overwhelmingly unqualified for. I was junior to all the other candidates and didn’t even have the highest level of education required for the job. Nonetheless, I felt something prompting me to throw my hat in the ring. Astoundingly, less than 5 months later, I stood in my new office at the pentagon and found myself running all over Capitol Hill. A few months after that, I stood at the White House waiting for Pope John Paul II to arrive, thinking to myself, “How in the world did I get here?” Only God… and certainly not by my own strength! I’m so thankful for following that prompting because Washington, D.C. is where I found my first church “home” with close, Christian friends and most importantly, a deep, genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
How comforting to know that God does not see us the way we see ourselves! Being qualified or “good enough” is never a prerequisite for being used by God. Just like Gideon obeyed even when he felt unqualified to do what God called him to do, we too should recognize that we are capable of far more than what we could ever imagine when we trust in Him and follow His lead.
[1] Judges 4; 5 ESV.
[2] Judges 12:8-10 ESV.
[3] Judges 16:1-3 ESV.
[4] Judges 6 Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers.” n.d. Biblehub.com. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/judges/6.htm.
Action Steps
Prayer
Father, my loving Creator, thank you for designing me in Your perfect pattern. Even when I feel inadequate, unfit, or unqualified, I am encouraged to know that You are the ultimate Judge of whether I am up to the task. Help me to be willing and ready to obey whenever and wherever You call me to take a bold step. It’s in Your perfect name I pray, Amen.
Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred...
Reflection
Some of the leaders recorded in the book of Judges had interesting backgrounds including one fierce, warrior woman named Deborah,[1] a family man with 30 sons and 30 daughters named Ibzan,[2] and a muscle man named Samson who was so strong that he tore up a city gate with his bare hands![3]
An interesting change in leader selection occurred in Judges chapter 6 when God called Gideon, a poor farmer from a weak clan,[4]1 to lead Israel against their enemy, the Midianites. Gideon initially had his doubts about taking up army duties in place of his regular wheat-trade, but he nevertheless marched forward with a skimpy, “special operations” group that was anything but qualified. The result? Gideon and his “lappers” led Israel to freedom from the oppression of the Midianites.
Sometimes, God has to remove the qualifications to show us that only He can do it. As a mid 20-something year-old, I recall being selected to a position that I was overwhelmingly unqualified for. I was junior to all the other candidates and didn’t even have the highest level of education required for the job. Nonetheless, I felt something prompting me to throw my hat in the ring. Astoundingly, less than 5 months later, I stood in my new office at the pentagon and found myself running all over Capitol Hill. A few months after that, I stood at the White House waiting for Pope John Paul II to arrive, thinking to myself, “How in the world did I get here?” Only God… and certainly not by my own strength! I’m so thankful for following that prompting because Washington, D.C. is where I found my first church “home” with close, Christian friends and most importantly, a deep, genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
How comforting to know that God does not see us the way we see ourselves! Being qualified or “good enough” is never a prerequisite for being used by God. Just like Gideon obeyed even when he felt unqualified to do what God called him to do, we too should recognize that we are capable of far more than what we could ever imagine when we trust in Him and follow His lead.
[1] Judges 4; 5 ESV.
[2] Judges 12:8-10 ESV.
[3] Judges 16:1-3 ESV.
[4] Judges 6 Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers.” n.d. Biblehub.com. Accessed June 4, 2023. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/judges/6.htm.
Action Steps
- Is there an area of your life you feel God is calling you to take a bold step? Talk to Him about it right now. Speak the words out and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in that step.
- Do you struggle with feeling unqualified, unfit, or not “good enough?” Be encouraged today! God values you so much more than you could ever imagine, and He has a perfect plan for you if You will trust Him with the details.
- Do you know someone who could use encouragement or an uplifting word of encouragement? Consider dropping them a note or a text message letting them know that you are praying for them.
Prayer
Father, my loving Creator, thank you for designing me in Your perfect pattern. Even when I feel inadequate, unfit, or unqualified, I am encouraged to know that You are the ultimate Judge of whether I am up to the task. Help me to be willing and ready to obey whenever and wherever You call me to take a bold step. It’s in Your perfect name I pray, Amen.
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