To Overcome the Overwhelming Odds
If you're going to follow Christ, you have to get used to being outnumbered, undermanned and overmatched in the physical realm. Why do I say this? Because it's all I see in the Biblical narrative for those God saves and uses in the plan of redemption. 1 Kings 20:1 (ESV) Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. Once again, God's people are outmanned. Syria musters not just an army but a coalition of 32 other kings to come up against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This happens right after the Elijah revival at Mount Carmel. While Elijah is licking his wounds at Mount Hebron, the nation is facing an overwhelming army. We must remember that Ben-hadad is attacking Israel because of an alliance made with him by the Southern Kingdom king of Judah, Asa! (See 1 Kings 15:19). That is, God's people have used God's enemies to at...