At first glance it might seem bewildering why our Lord allows opposition to come against us so fiercely when we are trying to obey Him. Shouldn’t God make life easier on those who serve Him? Shouldn’t God make obedience to Him as attractive as possible? Yet He does not. Often, in fact, life becomes more difficult after we pledge ourselves to His service.
“But!” But, God does not remain indifferent to our plight. He gives us one gift of inestimable value that more than compensates for any problem we might face. His presence. God’s answer for Gideon was not more soldiers or chariots, but more of Himself. Once Gideon had the Holy Spirit filling Him, he had more than enough resources to defeat his fiercest enemy.
As time would prove, the Holy Spirit led Gideon to embrace an unorthodox strategy never attempted before or since. God’s Spirit worked to bewilder Gideon’s enemies and to make Gideon’s efforts succeed. Gideon learned experientially that when God is for us, it matters not who is against us (Rom. 8:31).
In all of your calculating of how you will overcome your obstacles, never minimize the glorious reality that God goes with you.