He adds up his own resources and abilities and comes up short. His family is the lowliest in Manasseh and he himself is the most insignificant in his father's house. Not only that, he hasn't seen any miracles recently. Instead of wondrous deeds by which the LORD delivers the people from Egypt Gideon finds circumstances quite dire, asking "why has all this happened to us?"
The disciples are on the same page. They are considering mainly their Roman oppressors at this point. It seems like what they need to win are resources. But Jesus tells them, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." An abundance of human resources won't help. If that won't help, what will?
“Who then can be saved?”
We must learn to trust in the LORD rather than ourselves. We cannot rely on our own background or wealth to overcome our adversaries.
“I shall be with you,” the LORD said to him,
“and you will cut down Midian to the last man.”
We are up against impossible odds. The armies of the world outnumber us massively. If we try to do this on our own we will be overwhelmed as a matter of course. For us it is impossible, but not for God.
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
In order to face the opposition we are called to face it isn't about our families, our riches, or even our preparation and training. It is about what the LORD wants to do in our circumstances. If it is his will it does not matter what forces seem set against us. If he is for us none of that matters (cf. Rom. 8:28).
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
A large part of our problem is that we don't understand just what the Kingdom of God is. We still think in terms of the perfecting of the earthly city rather than the establishing of the heavenly city on earth. We think in terms of riches, of lineage, and of Romans and Midian oppressors. Our priorities aren't quite right. Instead, let us say truly together with Peter "We have given up everything and followed you." Let us surrender our claim to the earthly city. Let us leave the definition and design of the Kingdom to Jesus as we ask him, "What will there be for us?" Let us ask that question in genuine humility. We should want to know what God desires for us rather than what seems best to us. If we just allow Jesus to define the Kingdom by his terms we trust him to do what needs be done to bring that kingdom.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (cf. Heb. 12:28).
The benefit to us is not less than the rewards the earthly city has to offer. It is not less than the riches and family we leave behind. It is more. It is far more.
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
So let us trust him.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace
To his people, and to his faithful ones,
and to those who put in him their hope.
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