Arkansas State press., 1944-07-28

LESSON TEXF--Judges tat. 1921.
GOLDEN TEXT-There Is no restraint
70 the Lord to rave by many or by
few,-I Samuel it:6
Man power Is said TO be the secret
OF victory. Our nation Is concerned
about the shortage Of man power in
critical manufacturing centers. The
armed forces are calling for more
and more men and women.
That will all make 1t a little
strange to study and teach the les
son for today. for here Is the story
OF a crucial military campaign in
which the leader. Gideon. was told
by God 10 cut down his forces. This
happened again and again. until he
had less than one per cent of his
original force. which was none too
large, humanity speaking.
What singular thing was going on?
God was at work and He did not
want Israel to look to the arm Of
flesh. but to Him.
Three questions are raised and
answered in this interesting story:
]. Quantity or Quality? 7;4-O.
The Lord is looking for men to do
His work. but He cannot use men
who are afraid or careless. This
was the lesson Gideon learned, and
1t applies TO our day as well.
When Gideon started out he had
$4,000 men Judg. 7:0. Not willing
that they should glory in their own
strength and knowing that many OF
them were towards at heart. the
Lord told Gideon to let those who
were afraid, 60 home. When the
mob had left there we're only 10000
lsfk
How sad II is that so many are
"1earfl and afraid" ". 81 when 1t
comes to going into battle for the
Lord. They sing cheerily. Stand
,uN stand UP for Jesus. ye soldiers
ef he cross: let courage rise with
dansar." etc.: but when the bombs
q 6stan begin to fall. or the bugle
calls Tor an advance into the
snamys territory. they have dis
appsarsd TO places Of comfort and
sa1sv. What good are such SOL
d3srsi The Lord told Gideon to send
tham home: perhaps the church
should do the same.
Thsn came the second test which
appears In our lesson. Those who
ltoek the comfortable and easy way
- drink ". 81. were not alert and
lxeedy. Down went the number to
30: but these were men who were
ready to obey. who were alert and
courageous.
The church needs to learn that
large numbers are not the answer
10 her problems. God Is interested
IN numbers. be sure Of that. but He
u more concerned about quality
than quantity. Let US get more peo-
pie who are truly regenerated into
the church. and not just more peo-
pie.
II. Mans Power or Gods Power1
wv. 1919.
Strange AZ was the plan for re-
eruiting. the plan of battle was even
more unusual. Lights. broken pitch
ar and trumpet blasts are hardly
The accepted weapons Of warfare.
nor does the method sound like mill
tary strategy.
This was no time for questions,
Tor logical arguments, for the usual
organization Of war, for now God
was about to work. He was ready to
show His power quite apart from
the ability OF man, and He had a
right to work as He would.
Wise and blessed is the church
which knows that there comes a
time when the thing to do Is to put
plans aside and let the Lord work.
No one viii question the value of
organization and proper church
machinery" but we need to ask
ourselves whether we have not be.
come SO organized that we impede
the work of God
Observe on the other hand that IL
was the sword OF the Lord and of
Cideon"-not just the sword of the
Lord. God is an-powerfil We must,
not hinder His glorious working. But
He worked through men. do not for
get thatl He used Gideon, and He
used Gideon's little band.
Gods power must accomplish
Gods work, but that power flows
out to the world through yielded and
obedient men.
III. Running or Standing? wv. 10.
~.
The enemy ran and cried and
ded." The sword Of the Lord and Of
Gideon had put them to rout. Welt,
may the enemies of God be terror.
stricken when He begins to work
through His servants.
An this was done by faith" for
We ind Cideon's act Of turning TO,
digit the armies Of the aliens" list,
ed among the exploits OF faith (Heb!
ll:N.
Now, see what Gideon's host was
doing while the enemy ran ". III,
s.Thev stood every man In hts,
place" No need for frantic hurry
with them. no fear, no excitementI
God works that way. Remember
Ire children Of Israel at the Red
Scar The water ahead. and Pha,
rsoh's host % the rear. What 10 do,