Yes God Can!Sample

Let the Light Shine Through  

If ever there was an example of “Yes, God Can!” it would be the story of Gideon found in Judges 6-7. This guy was from the weakest clan in the whole tribe of Manasseh. To top it off, ole’ “Giddy” was the least in his entire family. (Judges 6:15)

Talk about an underdog! And God still handpicked Gideon for the job of leading an army against the Midianites who were running the show. But there was another problem. This ‘army’ that Gideon was called to lead would be whittled down from 32,000…to 10,000…to 300 warriors who would face the Midian hordes. 

The fact is, it wouldn’t have mattered if it was Gideon alone standing against a million enemy troops. With God added to the equation, it’s always a stacked deck. The Midianites would soon look like Termites.

After hearing some insider information that fueled Gideon’s confidence (Judges 7:13-14), a plan was hatched. “He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.” (7:16 NLT)

Just after midnight, Gideon and his slimmed down army would unleash mass chaos,

“Then all three groups blew their ram’s horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” (7:20)

I can only imagine how disoriented and confused I would be if I was awakened from a deep sleep at the sound of 300 horns blaring along with the same number of clay jars shattering. Sure enough, we read that the Lord caused the Midianites in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. (7:22)

Which brings us to 2 Corinthians 4:7,

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

I wonder if the Apostle Paul had the story of Gideon in mind when he refers to clay jars and light shining within. We don’t know for sure but it makes for some interesting discussion.

Like Gideon and his 300 warriors breaking their clay jars to reveal the light inside, you and I reveal the light of Christ in our brokenness. God chooses to use weak, clay jars in order shine His light into the darkness. This light inside each of us will overwhelm any enemy we face. Without Jesus, we’re severely outnumbered. With Jesus, victory is already ours.

God will use every ounce of pain and brokenness in our lives for His glory and purposes. With this in mind, let the Light shine through.

Prayer…

"Father, you are the Potter and we are the clay. By ourselves, we are empty containers. With you, we can offer an empty world something of great substance. Anything of lasting value that happens in our lives is a result of Your power. Fill us with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish Your will on earth. Just as you breathed life into the dust that you created Adam from, we ask that you would breathe life into our earthen vessels. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen."