Judges 8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna (kings of Midian) were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the east; for one hundred twenty thousand men bearing arms had fallen. 11 So Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the army; for the army was off its guard. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw all the army into a panic.

If you’ve been following along in the book of Judges with me you know that God sent Gideon – and a mere 300 warriors – to take on the Midianites who numbered 120,00 warriors. That’s right 300 vs. 120,000! Nuts! Insane! No way! But the 300 were victorious because God “threw all the army into a panic”. And when that happened the Midianites started attacking one another. I mean, that’s the only way such a thing is possible because 300 warriors is nowhere near enough to attack an army of 120,000.

What’s particularly interesting to me in this passage is the change in Gideon himself. His earlier fear and doubt and caution and hesitation are gone. Confident of God’s presence with him, Gideon is eager to pursue the kings of Midian and does so without delay. Gideon’s transformation is complete. He has become what the angel of the Lord called him in the very beginning – a “mighty warrior”.

It is true. With God all things are possible. Who is the Lord calling you to be today? Where does fear and doubt hold you back? What would it look like for you to take a step of faith today and watch for evidence that the Lord is with you? Lord by your grace give us courage to be whom you have called us to be. Amen.