Discouragement can hinder but it can never halt God’s plan for victory. Gideon fought against 100,000 enemy soldiers with his band of 300 and won such a massive victory that only 15,000 of the enemy were left. After the victory some of his brethren asked him, “‘What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?’ And they accused him fiercely” (Judges 8:1, ESV).
The people of Gideon’s own nation questioned his leadership, his decisions, his motives and his actions. Some of our most disheartening, soul-wrenching struggles often are not out in the battlefield of life but are in the fellowship of believers. Sometimes our own brothers and sisters hurl accusations at us and seem to find much to complain about. We expect such things from our enemies but we can be caught off guard and surprised when one of our own brethren fiercely accuses us.
Gideon was not discouraged, distracted or diminished in his faith, however, when he was questioned—He stayed in the battle! I love what he did: “And he said to them, ‘What have I done in comparison with you?’” (8:2). Gideon was saying to his accusers, “What are my victories compared to yours?” Instead of getting upset and into a fight with them, Gideon did what Nehemiah had done when he was building the wall and his enemies said to him, “Come down here. We need to discuss what you are doing.” Nehemiah responded to his enemies, “I don’t have time to discuss what I’m doing; I’m too busy doing it” (see Nehemiah 6:1-9).
The Bible says that Gideon and his 300 men “. . . came to the Jordan and crossed over . . . exhausted yet pursuing” (Judges 8:4). Gideon chose to get back into warfare with the enemy. He crossed over to the other side of the river and got back into the battle God had called him to fight. When you live out the mission that God has called you to; when you are not discouraged and dissuaded by what others say about you; when it is your holy ambition to do what God has called you to do—that becomes your victory.
Stay focused on your battle, stay focused on your calling, and God will give you the victory!