God wanted Gideon, Israel, Midian, and the entire world to know one thing:  that He doesn’t need human beings to accomplish His mission. Perhaps we need to be reminded of this. Too many times we work in our own strength, thinking that we can fix problems we are facing on our own. We rarely consult the Lord and ask Him for help. Yet, this story should serve as a reminder that it isn’t even enough to “consult” Him. We must completely rely on Him. 

There is a constant danger that people face who are involved in ministry, and that is the thought that God needs us. Of course, we wouldn’t say it just like that, but we are often battling this thought whether we like it or not. 

Some might be tempted to think this more than others, perhaps young pastors like myself are more at danger to believe such a preposterous thing, but all of us, at least in our actions at times, scream out from time to time the statement, “God needs me!”

Do you remember the story of Gideon and the 300 soldiers?

Spoiler alert for those who don’t remember it, the point of the story is that God doesn’t need you.

The story starts off with this man named Gideon. Gideon was a judge of Israel. He was a bit cowardly, though, and if he wasn’t cowardly, then he was at least doubtful.  He asked God to prove Himself to him through three miracles. God sent the angel of the Lord to shoot fire out of a rock to consume meat (Judges 6:21), he then gave Gideon two other miracles involving his famous fleece (Judges 6:36-40).

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