| “When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. – Judges 8:4 |
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EXHAUSTED YET ENDURING!
God had called Gideon to deliver Israel and after culling the army from 32,000 to 300 the battles have begun. Judges 7:23 says, ” And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.” As chapter 7 wraps up two of the princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb are captured and executed. But there are more Midianites to battle, specifically Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. Our verse to DATE, Judges 8:4, tells us about the start of their pursuit of these two kings.
In Judges 8:4 I am drawn to the word “EXHAUSTED” and the words “BUT STILL IN PURSUIT.” The word EXHAUSTED and the phrase BUT STILL IN PURSUIT should challenge us as well as teach us about what it takes to truly be successful. Life is difficult. Work is hard. Our days are full, overflowing with demand. The pressure to succeed at work, home, and/or ministry, is at times unbearable. It is EXHAUSTING. There are times we end the day EXHAUSTED and then start the next day EXHAUSTED. Life is tough! And then there come those moments of wanting to QUIT.
Yet we look at Judges 8:4 and we see 300 men who while EXHAUSTED, ENDURED. That is how I sum up “BUT STILL IN PURSUIT.” They had the character quality of ENDURANCE! While being EXHAUSTED, tired and worn out, completely drained they were ENDURING. Though EXHAUSTED they were men of ENDURANCE.