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This will be the first of three devotions based on the story of Gideon in Judges 7.

Part 1: The Realities of God's Plan

Life often presents us with situations where our carefully laid plans fall short. We naturally desire things to unfold according to our own design, striving to "stack the deck in our favor.” However, Judges 7 illustrates a powerful truth: God frequently has a better plan – a plan that is often markedly different from our own. 

Consider the disciples who fished all night without success; their plan was likely to give up, but Jesus directed them to deeper waters for a miraculous catch. Peter, too, thought he had a better idea when he rebuked Jesus about His impending death, only to discover God's ultimate plan for salvation was superior. Israel, upon seeing giants in Canaan, planned to return to Egypt rather than enter the promised land, learning over forty years in the wilderness that God's plan was the one that prevailed, though not in the way they initially expected. Gideon initially prepared to march into battle with 32,000 soldiers, but God's plan involved a significantly smaller force. God had a different plan for David, who was just a shepherd; for Job, who was wealthy and content; for Joseph and Mary, a young couple planning marriage and family; and even for Saul of Tarsus, who intended to destroy Christianity. 

This different plan is also a declared plan. God is not asking for a "leap in the dark" but a "clear step of faith." He communicates His will and directs our path plainly, speaking through His Word, the Spirit, and other believers. 

His plan is also distinct. Gideon's battle strategy, involving trumpets, shouts, and broken pitchers, is presented as a plan no human would devise, leading to victory in a way that highlighted divine intervention. This underscores that God's plan operates on principles often beyond human understanding or expectation.

As we consider Gideon’s story and these biblical examples, we are reminded that God’s plan is not just different—it is better. Though it will require risk and demand surrender, His plan is always designed for His glory and our ultimate good. When God reduces Gideon’s army or redirects a fisherman’s net, it’s not to diminish hope but to deepen faith. His ways may unsettle our comfort zones, but they establish His purposes.