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Yes. No. No. OK, Let's go!


                Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon ) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.  The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
            But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.  The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” (Judges 7:1-7)
 

            God told Gideon that he was to overcome the Midianites. Gideon did what any normal person with the job of conquering an enemy would do. He called out the troops. Thirty two thousand men showed up. Who wouldn't want to be part of God giving their oppressors the boot? And God said, "Nope! Send those who are afraid or having second thoughts home." Gideon did, and lost nearly 70% of his army. Ouch.
            And God said, "Nope! Send those who kneel down to drink home." Gideon did, and lost 97% of the remaining army. He was left with less than 1% of his original force. And God said that He would give the Midianites into Gideon's hand with that less than 1%. 
           Sometimes, when God says "No" we think that's the end of it . Hearing "No" from God is especially confusing when we are sure that He was saying "Yes" just a moment ago. Suddenly, things get harder, and harder still. What was a challenge to believe at the start becomes impossible, laughably impossible. That's when God says, "OK, let's go," because that's when going reveals Him most and causes our faith to grow most. Set backs and delays aren't set backs and delays, they're set ups for displays.

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