Throughout the Bible, one of the consistent lessons we are taught is that numbers are not a problem for God. He can save with many or few.
Israel was saved from Egypt through the ministry of Moses and Aaron. Gideon had three hundred men against thousands. David faced the giant by himself. Jonathan and his armor bearer took on a Philistine garrison. Daniel was faithful in Babylon. Jesus chose only twelve disciples.
Or think about the provision of God: when Israel was hungry, God sent manna and quail and brought water out of a rock. Elijah had birds bringing him food for many days, and the widow had a barrel of flour and a jug of oil that just wouldn’t quit. Elisha ministered to a woman whose oil multiplied. Jesus fed the five thousand and then as if to underline the point, He fed another four thousand.
The lessons are there for us over and over and over. On the one hand, we must not shirk our duty, and this includes not overcommitting to duties that we cannot actually perform. But God frequently gives us more than it seems we can perform, and He must be trusted to provide the means to perform our duty. When the disciples saw the crowds and that it was dinner time, they suggested sending the people away, but Jesus told the disciples, no, you give them something to eat.
And so it is that whenever we are told to feed the multitudes of children in our home, we know what comes next. When we are told to take the land, we know what our God will do, if we will trust Him. Whether it is the evening news and the latest atrocities of the Philistines or whether it is the latest round of hardships in your family or the heavy load of responsibilities you have been given, what is that to God? He is not limited by your resources, your energy, or your wisdom. He can save with many or few.
And remember the three friends who defied the Babylonian king: they said whether they lived or died, God would win. And so it is with us: our lives are living sacrifices of praise, offered up to the One who purchased them with His blood. He bought us; He knows what we are for. So whether we live or die, whether we succeed at this particular thing or not, Christ has conquered, Christ will win, and He will save with many or few.
New ebook Marriage Militant: 25 wedding homilies available here.
Photo by mari lezhava on Unsplash
Leave a Reply