DEVOTION – DAY 301

Judges 7:1-3 “Glory Belongs To God”

 

Judges 7:1-3 “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.” Twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.”

 

The nation of Midian had been oppressing Israel for a long time. The men of Israel led by Gideon had marched north to battle against the Midianites. Gideon and his men had camped at the spring of Harod, a tributary of the Jordan river. Gideon was going to battle with 32,000 men supporting him. But God had other plans. His ways are not our ways. God told Gideon that if He allowed Gideon to win the battle against the Midianites, glory would go to them. They would boast that they conquered the Midianites because they had the strength of 32,000 men. God told Gideon to send home those men who were fearful of battling the Midianites. 22,000 men were sent home as a result. God subsequently trimmed Gideon’s army to just 300 men. God was going to use 300 men led by Gideon to conquer the great army of the Midianites. Against such incredible odds, it would be clear to everyone that Gideon’s success could only be due to God’s help. God was the ultimate conqueror of the Midianites.

 

God led a young American missionary, Adoniram Judson, to arrive in Myanmar with his wife on 13th July 1813. They were newly married and Myanmar was a Buddhist nation. There was a law prohibiting anyone to have any religion other than Buddhism. No one expected them to have any success. The more experienced missionaries were sent to India. It took Adoniram Judson 12 years to achieve 18 converts. But he persevered. He even translated the Bible into Myanmar language. He wanted to share the gospel to the Karen people, a Tibet-Myanmar tribal group living in the South-east corner of Myanmar along the Salween River. However, they spoke a language that was different from Myanmar. God prompted Adoniram Judson to secure the freedom of a Karen slave belonging to one of his Myanmar converts. Everyone thought Adoniram Judson was crazy because this Karen slave was illiterate, spoke no Myanmar language and he was bad-tempered. He was also a thief and murderer. His name was Ko Tha Byu. Adoniram Judson slowly and patiently shared the gospel with Ko Tha Byu and even baptized him. Upon his baptism, Ko Tha Byu was a changed man. He left Adoniram Judson and sailed up the Salween River to evangelize to his Karen people and many became Christians through this unlikely missionary. God used people like Adoniram Judson and Ko Tha Byu so that Myanmar was open to the gospel up till today.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, You alone is the Almighty Living God. May nothing steal the glory that rightfully belongs to You. May your kingdom be established across the whole world. We pray this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. Why does God choose to use the weak, the unlikely people to fulfill His mighty purposes?
  2. How does this devotion help you to remain faithful to God and to persevere in serving Him even though you do not succeed immediately?
  3. What is God asking you to do that seem to go against conventional wisdom? Will you obey Him.