I know what you’re thinking! Your mind is going to that epic Gerard Butler movie from 2006 in which 300 buff Spartan dudes hold off the entire Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae and save the country. While that was an actual historical battle, many theatrical liberties were taken in the film.

What I’m talking about are 300 regular guys whose story, in all probability, won’t make it to the big screen. This battle happened about 700 years earlier.

Most of us are familiar with the biblical story of Gideon’s defeat of the Midianite army with a band of only 300 soldiers handpicked by God for him.

“Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, ‘The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.’” (Judges 6:11-12, ESV)

So, here’s a little background information: The Midianites oppressed Israel because the Israelites had forsaken the Lord. Gideon was hiding out and threshing wheat, possibly in a cave. The Angel of the Lord, the pre-incarnate Christ, came to him and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

In my military mind, Gideon was not the best prospect for delivering Israel from their oppressors. I would be looking for a “Stonewall” Jackson, a George S. Patton, a “Chesty” Puller (only a Marine can relate), or a “Stormin’ Norman” Schwarzkopf — not some wimp hiding in a cave.

But God’s ways are not our ways.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

You see, you and God make a “majority.” Paul said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Well, we know who is against us — Satan, the god of this world. But we also know who is for us — the Captain of the Lord of Hosts!

Our problem is that we look at our weakness rather than looking at His strength.

Gideon didn’t just go right out and start “whupping” on the bad guys. He asked God to show him what to do. Gideon put the call out, and 32,000 Israelites responded. God began to whittle the numbers down to a mere 300 regular guys, guys like you and me.

As a career Marine officer, I can tell you that this is not a viable or realistic military strategy. In offensive combat, you need a two-to-one ratio to ensure a chance of victory. BUT GOD!

The Lord of Hosts does not call men to failure and defeat. He does call us to battle, and victory is assured to those who will humbly walk in obedience to Him. Not the digitally enhanced buff dudes in 300, but average Joes who are willing to follow their King into the fray.

So, the question is, where am I hiding from the enemy’s oppression today? In my “man cave” behind my remote? Behind the busyness of home, work, or the kids’ soccer, football, baseball, or recital schedule?

God is calling out a generation of Christian men to be “Men of Valor.” Jesus once said, “For many be called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 20:16, KJV)

Here’s the deal: All who accept the call are “chosen.” God is calling you! Will you heed the call?

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!