Just a few weeks ago, I was going through a time of doubt. Squad mates all around me were receiving blessings financially, some even became fully funded. God was working in their lives and it was awesome! As happy as I was for them, I couldn't help feeling a little discouraged. "Where's my blessing, Lord?" I prayed, I sought Him out, and funds did come in…… just slowly and not in large amounts. (Don't get me wrong, every single amount helps and I am so blessed to have the love and support of so many people! I appreciate your giving and they are financial blessings! :)) It was just that a few of my squad mates had been blessed with large sums of money (praise the Lord!) I was playing the comparison game. I knew God was calling me to this trip, but I was beginning to doubt if He would provide. Silly, I know, but hey I'm only human, right?
After spending some time in prayer, God began proving His faithfulness to me. Over the course of a week or two, funds began come in more steadily. As I sat writing thank you notes to my supporters, I looked at my fundraising page. This page tells you who donated and how much. I began to notice one number that stood out: $300. I had been blessed with quite a few donations of $300. I thought, "Well that's an odd number, maybe it's significant." So I decided to go to biblegateway.com (great website, by the way) and look up the number 300 to see if there was any biblical significance to this number. And wouldn't you know, the first reference to the number 300 was in Judges. This led me to Gideon.
Let me introduce you to Gideon.
Judges 6 and 7
We first meet Gideon in chapter 6. At this time, the Midianites were oppressing Israel, like a lot, and we meet Gideon hiding in a winepress. Seems like a really courageous guy, right? An Angel of the Lord appears to him and says:
"The Lord is with you mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12)
Gideon replies right back with:
"Pardon me, my Lord….but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said. 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." (Judges 6:13)
Sound familiar?
I'm asking that of myself. Gideon was FULL of doubt, and we'll learn a little later, that he doubted A LOT. But even in His doubt, God answers him. God proves His faithfulness.
"The the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midians hand. AM I NOT SENDING YOU?" (Judges 6:14, emphasis added)
Boom- it hit me, the conviction of doubting what God was doing in me and through me. I continued to read on, and I saw the Gideon really was a fearful man. He goes on to ask God how he can save Israel as he is the "least in his family" and his clan is the "weakest in Manasseh" (See Judges 6:15) God tells him that He will be with him and not to worry. Then Gideon doubts AGAIN. He asks God to prove that it really is Him talking to him, by having God wait there for him while he prepares an offering. And of course, God is faithful and does so. (Judges 6:16-22) Gideon realizes it really is God speaking to Him. You think that'd be enough to convince him, right?
WRONG
Gideon continues to doubt, and asks God to prove over and over again that what He has been telling Gideon is true and shall come to pass.(Judges 6:36-40) A little thick-headed much? And I realized that I was being just as thick-headed as Gideon. God has shown me time and time again that this (The World Race) is His path for me right now. Yet I keep saying, "God prove it" Who am I?
God forgive my stubboreness. Help me to trust You. I WILL TRUST YOU!
As for the significance of the number 300, well, we shall get to that next time 😉
TO BE CONTINUED……..
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TO ALL OF MY SUPPORTERS: THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! This journey would not be possible without your help! Every single gift is a blessing and I am so grateful! May God bless you and keep you! Much love to you all!
Kayla <3
