From early childhood, many of us recall the old axiom "in numbers there is strength." Juvenile disagreements and quarrels of one kind or another, were often settled on a numerical basis. Having "more on our side" we always felt like we were the winners. Since those days, we have learned that multitudes of others feel the same way.
However, strength in numbers is ill-founded and, of course, not necessarily true. In the realm of spiritual realities with God and His people, it is most certainly not true. The Scriptures present abundant proof of this. Time after time when defeat seemed inevitable from a human standpoint, a glorious victory was achieved. We turn your attention to some outstanding examples.
NOAH
Almost 2000 years of man's history had elapsed and moral conditions on the earth had reached their lowest point (Genesis 6:1-5,11,12). God decreed judgment for the whole creation (Ver. 6,7). BUT, we are told: "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Ver. 8). While the multitudes scoffed, Noah and his family prepared to enter the ark. Chapters 7 and 8 record the triumph of the VICTORIOUS MINORITY over universal wickedness.
JOSEPH
As we turn to Genesis 37, we learn that God's servant Joseph was outnumbered 11 to I in a family conspiracy. Verses 3 and 4 tell of his father's love and his brothers' jealousy. Sold as a slave (Ver. 28) he ends up in Egypt (Ver. 36). BUT, "the Lord was with Joseph" (Ch. 39:2,5,21,23) in this seeming tragic situation, and Chapters 40-45 relate the triumph of God's VICTORIOUS MINORITY, this time over a family conspiracy.
DAVID
In I Samuel 17 we read of the shepherd boy David and his dramatic mastery over the Philistine giant, Goliath. The secret is stated in the little phrase "the battle is the Lord's" (Ver. 47). One, with the Lord, is a VICTORIOUS MINORITY, even over brute strength.
ELIJAH
Who of us could forget the thrilling triumph of God's prophet Elijah over the idolatrous prophets of Baal (I Mngs 18)? Outnumbered 450 to 1 (Ver. 22), Elijah proves that numbers mean little when God's truth is at stake. Once again, the VICTORIOUS MINORITY, obedient to God and His Word, are declared the victors.
GIDEON
Few Old Testament accounts of God's miraculous workings through His servants have so encouraged belivers as the record of Gideon and his faithful three hundred. Judges 6 and 7 tell us the story of how 31,700 out of 32,000 were eliminated because of their unfitness for battle. With only 300 in his army, Gideon with the Spirit of the Lord upon him (Judges 6:34), put to route the hordes of the Midianites. The VICTORIOUS MINORITY was never illustrated better.
THE LESSON FOR US
It is evident from these Scriptural examples that strength is NOT in numbers where spiritual matters are concerned. While the great majority in Christendom has departed from the fundamentals of the faith and even some true believers are being misled by the appealing philosophies of the "new evangelicalism," there are still those who have not "bowed their knees to the image of Baal." To these the Word of God brings strength and assurance. What if we are outnumbered? God's people have always been in the minority BUT, thank God, a VICTORIOUS MINORITY. "Since God be for us, who can be against us?"
Taken from the Berean Searchlight. The Searchlight is published by the Berean Bible Society and is sent free of charge to all who request it. |
