SEED 2 ~ Enough

"And the LORD said to Gideon, 'I will deliver you with the 300.'"
Judges 7:7

The 300
In the mid-fifth century before Christ a tiny Greek army led by King Leonidas and 300Spartan warriors fought an invading Persian army estimated between 80,000 and 290,000men. In a slender canyon at the battle of Thermopylae the Greeks held the huge Persian force at bay for seven days until they were betrayed by a Greek traitor.

Centuries later the idea of so few soldiers holding their own against a vast, military kingdom captured the attention of Hollywood. The result was a multi-million dollar visual extravaganza that had moviegoers glued to the screen.

We’re captivated when someone does the seemingly impossible. We love it when the underdog comes out on top. When we learn of their stories, we somehow take on a bit of their strength and own some of their courage. We grid ourselves in their armor, take up their bow, and suddenly feel that a bit of their victory has become our own.

King Leonidas wasn’t the first leader of 300. The other 300 were the originals. Hollywood hasn’t come knocking for their story. Maybe we have a bit more trouble visualizing it, but the account is brilliantly recorded in the Book of Judges.

Gideon, the commander-in-chief, led a vast army of Israelites. Their ranks initially numbered more than 30,000 and were chomping at the bit to slay the Midianites. Then God dwindled Gideon’s army down—not once, but twice.

God didn’t pare the army down by a small amount. This reduction in force numbered in the thousands. First God cut the army from more than thirty thousand to ten thousand. Then from ten thousand the army dropped to just a few hundred—three to
be exact.

Imagine how Gideon’s eyes widened with surprise. Picture the beads of sweat forming on his brow. Hear his loud heartbeat quicken and pound in his chest. Imagine his nerves teetering on the emotional edge. Envision the barrage of questions swimming around in his head. Yet Gideon went to war with these remaining 300 because in the end, these forces were like no other grouping of soldiers.

This was God’s 300.

With this small yet divinely ordained group, Gideon forged ahead and claimed a victory. Who know so much could be accomplished with so little?

Are you running on empty?
Are you tired? Have your circumstances diminished your resources? Are you looking at what remains and wondering how you have any chance of doing so much with so little? Hear the words of our Lord to you, valiant warrior: “I will deliver you with the 300.”

Your 300 seem so few, don’t they? What you have seems so little, especially when you face such obstacles and must climb mountainous circumstances.

Here’s the secret: You’re better off with God’s 300 than your own 30,000 because His deliverance is only guaranteed to come through His supply. Bigger isn’t always better. More is vastly overrated. Believe it or not, you have exactly what you need in time, gifts, talents, provision, and spiritual resources. In fact, He has graciously “granted to [you] everything pertaining to life and godliness”
(2 Peter 1:3)

Everything.

So, onward soldier. It’s the 300.

It’s God’s 300.

And it’s enough.

Discussion Questions:
Background Scripture: Psalm 84; Philippians 4

1. How many times a week do you worry about having enough?
2. What has your concern kept you from participating in?
3. What influencers in your life prompt you to feel unsatisfied and to want more than what God provides for you?
4. What is on your wish list with God that He has not chosen to give you right now? Consider this in light of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
5. Read God’s promise in Psalm 84:11. What about your life makes this easy or difficult to believe?
6. Why do you think we are all prone to worry? What practical steps can we take to more effectively obey Matthew 6:25-34?
7. In what ways does God supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)? How does trust enter into this equation?
8. Paul didn’t say God would supply all of my wants. How do you see the difference between wants and needs?

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