1 Maccabees 3:16-22: a reflection

16He came near to the ascent of Bethhoron, and Judas went out to meet him with a small company. 17But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “What? Shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? We for our part are faint, having tasted no food this day.” 18Judas said, “It is an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few; 19for victory in battle stands not in the multitude of an army, but strength is from heaven. 20They come to us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to plunder us, 21but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22He himself will crush them before our face; but as for you, don’t be afraid of them.

Judas Maccabeus, with only a small company, faces a large and strong enemy army, and his men are afraid. How can we, so few and faint, they ask, fight against so great a multitude? But Judas answers them with a truth that steadies fear: It is no hard thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with heaven it is all one, to save by many or by few. For victory in battle stands not in the size of the army, but strength is from heaven. He himself will crush them; do not be afraid.

Notice where Judas places their confidence: not in numbers, but in God. His men were counting the odds, measuring their small force against the enemy's large one, and their fear grew as they counted. But Judas turned their eyes from the numbers to God: victory does not depend on the size of the army, but on the strength that comes from heaven. With God, it makes no difference whether he saves by many or by few; the outcome rests on him, not on the count.

That truth is meant to steady us when we face overwhelming odds. We are prone, like Judas's men, to measure our situation by the numbers, our small strength against the large obstacle, and to grow afraid as we count. But the outcome does not depend on the odds; it depends on God, with whom it is all one to save by many or by few. When you face something that seems overwhelming, do not let the count rule your heart. Victory is not in the size of the force, but in the strength that comes from God. Trust him rather than the numbers, and do not be afraid; the God who can save by few as easily as by many is able to bring you through, whatever the odds against you.

Lord, facing a large enemy with only a small company, Judas steadied his frightened men, saying that victory stands not in the size of the army but in the strength that comes from heaven, and that with you it is all one to save by many or by few. Steady me with that truth when I face overwhelming odds. I am prone, like his men, to measure my situation by the numbers, my small strength against the large obstacle, and to grow afraid as I count. But the outcome does not depend on the odds; it depends on you, with whom it is all one to save by many or by few. When I face something that seems overwhelming, do not let the count rule my heart. Help me trust you rather than the numbers, and not be afraid, for you can save by few as easily as by many, and are able to bring me through, whatever the odds against me. My confidence is not in numbers, but in you.