A Few Good Men

Apparently bigger is better and if you can get more people on your side, that’s all great.  No one is interested in a book that has a small readership.  No one wants to watch a programme with a few viewers.  No one is putting themselves out for something with low attendance.  That’s why I understand the attraction of a crowd – power in numbers.

I remember a fasting session I attended at the end of December 1999 where we looked at Judges 7 and it was the first time for me that I really began to understand that as far as God is concerned a man of God plus God is a majority.  The deal is to have the backing of God and then walk out with that.

I can understand the trepidation that some of those 300 men might have faced when they saw 31,700 of their compatriots troop back to where they came from.  Yet there’s something in faithful obedience that suggests that no matter the face of opposition when you consider the One on your side and His unbeaten track record then regardless of others not being brave enough or otherwise equipped with God on our side the battle is won.

The battle for today is different.  It doesn’t ask for men to pick up arms and wage a physical war.  It doesn’t even ask for me to pick up lucrative contracts and throw money at a well-meaning project.  This warfare calls for men to be men in the image of Christ who was willing to go to the cross to be obedient to His Father.  Who was willing to be a servant to those who followed Him.  Who was willing to live out a humble, meek life proclaiming the coming Kingdom of the Father and expects those who follow to take the same call.

Is that going to be the majority?  Well of course not.  Is that going to be a sizeable minority?  Well if history is anything to go by, the answer to that is a resounding no.  Should we be even looking for that?  If history, especially that of Christendom has taught anything is that the ends that Christ will introduce is not brought by access to government, finances or popularity.  Like before, God is just looking for a few good men who will follow the example of His Son and walk on the paths of righteousness for His Name’s Sake.  Imagine the impact that can have – if it can defeat overwhelming odds before, if it can bring entire armies to a stand-still, then with God nothing is possible to those that believe that all it takes is a few good men.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd