Then the Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred that lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go to their homes.” (Judges 7:7)
Have you ever approached the tee box on a short Par 4, thinking if you hit your driver just right, you could reach the green and putt for an eagle? It’s a good feeling to release the power of a long drive and be rewarded with an opportunity to pick up a couple of strokes against par.
However, most short Par 4’s involve some risk. Maybe it’s water if you go left, OB if you go right, or deep bunkers surrounding the green. Sometimes it’s best to check your pride, give up the power, and play the shorter but safer shot.
A classic example of giving up power and playing it smartly was at the 2006 Open Championship. The host course was Royal Liverpool, where the penalty for missing the fairway was severe.
Some questioned the strategy of Tiger Woods, who opted to leave his driver in the bag. Tiger Woods! – the guy that hit the ball so long that venues were adding yardage to “Tiger-proof” their courses?
Why would he give up that advantage? Because he was willing to trust that his “shorter but safer” strategy could win. The driver only came out once in four days; Tiger hit 86% of fairways and won his second straight Open Championship by two strokes.
Trust is a significant theme we often see in the Bible. One classic example from the Old Testament is the story of Gideon. God calls upon Gideon to save the people of Israel by leading them against the Midianites. But Gideon is a reluctant leader, so he asks God to give him a sign that God will be with him in this battle. He asks for three different signs, all of which God confirms.
So Gideon gathers an army of soldiers numbering 32,000. But God tells him to reduce the number, so Gideon makes a significant reduction, down to 10,000. But God is working from a different strategy, and He tells Gideon to make another reduction from 10,000 down to 300 warriors!
God wants to make sure that Gideon puts his trust in Him, not his soldiers. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Gideon and his 300 men follow God’s direction, launch a surprise attack, and win a decisive victory for Israel.
We can take at least a couple of things from Gideon’s story. First, the importance of prayer. Second, always trust in the Lord.
Like Tiger at Royal Liverpool, Gideon gave up power to trust in a different strategy. The result was a huge victory. Tiger is headed for the Golf Hall of Fame, and Gideon achieved mention in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, commonly referred to as the Faith Hall of Fame.
After receiving his call, Gideon was in constant communication with God. Likewise, whenever we face an important decision or critical task, the starting point should always be to go to the Lord in prayer.
Also, remember to always trust in the Lord. God doesn’t always require us to understand His plans, but He does want us to trust Him as he works those plans through us. Psalm 9:10 sums it up nicely: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Prayer: Lord, help us constantly turn to you for wisdom and guidance. Remind us that it’s not about what we do but what you do through us.