Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Through two games this NFL season, there have been a lot of unexpected outcomes. Many teams have won against overwhelming odds. Therefore, this week the Holy Spirit is leading me to consider how God navigates us through overwhelming odds.

Today, let’s begin with considering the truth that sometimes God lowers our odds.

Today’s scripture, Judges 7:1-9 (NLT) shares…
[1] So Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon) and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. [2] The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. [3] Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. [4] But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” [5] When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” [6] Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. [7] The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” [8] So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon. [9] That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!

Consider…
We typically think of God helping us overcome our overwhelming situations. However, sometimes God appears to make bad things worse. Before you call me blasphemous, read today’s scripture again. God told Gideon to reduce his army from 22,000 to 300 to fight 132,000 Midianites!

There’s an important lesson in Gideon’s story that we can learn about how God may navigate through the overwhelming odds. The lesson is God lowers our self relying odds to increase our trust in God.

Think about it, Gideon doesn’t obediently reduce his army 99% unless he totally trusts God! Remember, Gideon wasn’t running from the fight, instead he was trusting God’s strategy to win it.

I also think of Joseph who God allowed to be…

• sold into slavery by his brothers
• lied on by his boss’ wife
• wrongly imprisoned
• forgotten by his fellow imate

…yet Joseph trusted and served God throughout, and became the second in command in Egypt.

Of course there’s Job, who God allowed Satan to strip everything, including his health. God allowed this to prove His point that He could trust the people that were made just a little lower than the Angels.

You see, God lowers our odds to increase our recognition and trust that it’s Him who strengthens us. I believe God wants our war cry to be Philippians 4:13 (KJV)…
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

So whenever you’re facing overwhelming odds, I encourage you to remember Gideon, Joseph and Job. And know that like the lyrics in an Anthony Brown song says…

Now stop
Humble is the way, stay low
The lower you get the more God’s gonna bless you
The lower you get the more God’s gonna bless you
The lower you get the more God’s gonna bless you

Put all your trust in God no matter how low the odds, because He always wins!

Today’s Song is…
All Things Through Christ

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)