Cracked Pots

          God often works in very mysterious ways.  That lesson was impressed on a man named Gideon.  God had called him to deliver his fellow Israelites from Midianite oppression (Judges 6:14).  It took some convincing, but Gideon was finally persuaded to do it.  The opposing army was large (Judges 7:12), but perhaps it could be done.  That’s when the odd things began to happen.
          Gideon assembles an army of 32,000 fighting men.  Not much by comparison, but with God’s help, who knows?  But then God allows those who are fearful to go home and 22,000 take him up on the offer (Judges 7:3).  Now Gideon is down to 10,000 soldiers.  But God still isn’t done.  After another test, only 300 fighting men are left (Judges 7:4-8).  By this time, maybe Gideon is wishing he could revisit his decision to take on the mission.  But God promises victory, so they forge ahead.
But how do you win such a battle against incredible odds?  Apparently not by conventional wisdom or means.  Gideon divides his small army into 3 groups and gives them trumpets and clay pots with torches inside of them (Judges 7:16).  They surround the enemy camp at night.  At Gideon’s signal, they blow their trumpets and smash the pitchers in their hands, revealing the torches (Judges 7:18-20).  The Midianites believe they are surrounded by a large army.  In the ensuing confusion, they turn on each other and run away in fear.
What hope can I have from the fact that God often uses odd ways to accomplish his purposes?  If God can use the cracked pots of Israel to defeat Midian, then just maybe he can use a cracked pot like me as well.  While I am just an earthen vessel with its share of nicks, scrapes, and cracks, God still uses me (and you) to carry his precious treasure to a needy world (2 Corinthians 4:7).  And like the pitchers of Gideon, I may need to be broken to let the full measure of the treasure of God shine forth.

God loves you!
Mike