Creative Solutions


Judges 7:19-25
19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. 22 When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. 25 And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

Here is another scene that captures the imagination. At 10:00pm, as the night watch is changing shifts, Gideon’s 300 men execute their plan. The Midianites are either sleeping, just heading to bed after their 4 hour watch, or groggy from having just woken to begin their shift. Suddenly there is the sound of 300 pottery jars being broken and the sudden flash of 300 lit torches along with 300 trumpets blowing all at the same time. The cacophony shatters the sleepy peace in the Midianite camp and chaos breaks out among the soldiers. They are so confused they kill one another while Israel merely watches. Then the Midianites run. By Gideon’s command, those soldiers of Israel who were allowed to go home are called back into action. They block all the places where people crossed the Jordan, thus prohibiting Midian from returning home. Their kings are killed and beheaded. God secures the victory and Israel wins the day. When God executes a plan, it is perfect. This whole scene is reminiscent of when Israel defeated the city of Jericho almost 400 years earlier as they entered The Promised Land to inhabit their gift from God.

I find it interesting that our God of order uses chaos to defeat the enemy. He knew just what would strike fear into the hearts and minds of Midian, causing their panic to be the object of their defeat. When presented with a problem, I am often shocked and delighted at the creative and unexpected plans God devises to help me. I admit, I have often prayed this exact prayer. Dear Lord, I’m fresh out of ideas. But while my creativity is finite, Yours is infinite. Please grant me the idea I need to move forward. Works every time.

It is a delightful thing to be able to watch as the Lord continuously provides fresh ideas to move forward. And I don’t think it matters what field you’re pursuing. God’s got something for you. But I also think that He’s going to allow you to chug along on your own for as long as necessary should you decide not to access His brilliant creativity. I know this is rather a weird application for this story. But this is just one of the stories where we see an unexpected and creative way for God to spread His message. We worship a God of great creativity and I’m not sure we access that character trait very often, much to our own detriment. So, I challenge you today to take your problems to the Lord and ask Him for a creative solution. Then stand back and watch Him work. It’s really rewarding and a great deal of fun. It doesn't mean you won't have to work or do as God instructs but it will mean your goals will be achieved and you'll probably enjoy the process a great deal.

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