Making a Connection

2 Corinthians 4:6-8 says, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair . . . .

The light is the treasure. 

In earthen vessels. 

God’s power, not ours, should be known.

Do you see Gideon’s battle here—in the New Testament?

We’ll start Gideon’s story when he goes on a reconnaissance mission and overhears a terrified Midianite tell about a dream. The Midianite dreamed about the defeat of Midian and Amalek at the hands of Gideon and God.

Gideon is confirmed in his heart that God will give Israel the victory. (God had whittled his army down to only 300 men.)

God would get all the glory.

This is the rest of the story: And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled (Judges 7:15-20).

Jesus is the light shining out of darkness. 

We who know Him as our personal Savior have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts—in our bodies, made of dust (earthen vessels, pitchers). 

The reason the Light of the World dwells in earthen vessels? That the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7b).

May we glorify God as we reveal His light and power!