FAITH CAPSULE: Focus on God for the wisdom to fight your battle.

Judges 7

Jerubbaal (Gideon) was set for war against the Midianites when God spoke to him, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claims glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” And twenty-two thousands of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” (Judges 7:1-3) 
In the physical, there is a need to gain strength in numbers to emerge victorious in battle. 
However, the instruction of God to Jerubbaal was to reduce the number of his army. 
Jerubbaal gave himself to the instruction of God, and the number was reduced to more than half, from twenty-two thousand to ten thousand.  
God is a battle warrior and does not share His glory with anyone. 
He called on Jerubbaal after he had cut down the number of his army and said: “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there…” (Judges 7:4) 
Imagine Jerubbaal communicating with friends about how God has been reducing the number. Without a doubt, friends would have wondered and even considered Jerubbaal foolish, spiritually insane, overzealous, and unrealistic. 
Jerubbaal led the people to the water as directed by God to have the number reduced again. 
At the water, God spoke again, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise, everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.” (Judges 7: 5-6). 
In going against the Midianites, one considers assigning men that lapped from water over ones that got on their knees to drink water would have been considered foolish. 
No matter how foolish the direction of God sounds, His preference should always prevail over the best reference of this world.
The number against the Midianites was three hundred men from thirty-two thousand; this is foolishness by human reasoning. 
To man, it is suicidal to go to war after ending up with such a small number. 
Thirty thousand seems to be the right way and not the foolish way. Always remember the word of Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” 
Jerubbaal did not take the path outside the direction of God but obeyed God without complaint or doubt.
Jerubbaal went with three hundred. 
Are you fighting a battle yet looking for human wisdom to sustain you? 
It does not matter how tough the challenges present, but focusing on God is enough to be victorious.

Prayer for today: Ask to live life in obedience to the direction of God.