Context No. 3012 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees 5:35-39: in context

35He turned away to Mizpeh and fought against it, took it, killed all its males, took its spoils, and burned it with fire. 36From there he marched and took Casphor, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of the land of Gilead. 37Now after these things, Timotheus gathered another army and encamped near Raphon beyond the brook. 38Judas sent men to spy on the army; and they brought him word, saying, “All the Gentiles who are around us are gathered together to them, an exceedingly great army. 39They have hired Arabians to help them, and are encamped beyond the brook, ready to come against you to battle.” So Judas went to meet them.

Judas Maccabeus captures a string of cities in Gilead. Then his enemy Timotheus regroups, gathering another army and hiring Arab mercenaries, and encamps beyond the brook, ready for battle. Judas sends scouts, who report that the surrounding peoples have all gathered against him into an exceedingly great army. And Judas, hearing this, goes to meet them.

This is a campaign narrative from a brutal era, and there is no need to dwell on the violence of it. What is worth drawing out is Judas's response to overwhelming odds. Told the enemy is an exceedingly great army, reinforced with hired troops, he does not retreat; he goes to meet them. Whatever we make of the warfare, the note struck is resolve in the face of a threat far larger than his own force, going forward to face what has to be faced rather than shrinking back. It sits within the larger story of a small people trusting God against great powers.

When the challenge before me looks far larger than my resources, do I go to meet it in faith, or shrink back?

Sources

1 Maccabees 5:38: "All the Gentiles who are around us are gathered together to them, an exceedingly great army."
1 Samuel 17:45: "You come to me with a sword... but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts."
Psalm 27:3: "Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear."