Our natural tendency is to increase our numbers and to build our resources. The more we have, the greater our certainty of victory. That is why so many details of Gideon’s story can disturb us. He began with 32,000 soldiers, only a third as many as his fierce enemies. But then God allowed 22,000 of those soldiers to return home. As if that was not enough, God then reduced the force from 10,000 to 300. Truly a ludicrous number with which to launch a campaign against anyone! But then Gideon further divided his paltry contingent into three groups. Now, with only 100 men at his back, Gideon faced over 100,000. While military strategists would have gasped at such odds, God was finally satisfied that He had the odds He was looking for!
God’s ways are not our ways. We assume we cannot move forward until we have greater resources. God may declare that we cannot advance until we reduce what we have. As long as we have God, any other resource at our disposal is simply excess baggage!
What is preventing you from advancing with God? Have you been waiting until you have additional resources? Perhaps God is waiting until you have less. The fewer supplies you have at your disposal, the more likely it is you will rely upon Him.