Judith 7:1-5: a reflection

1The next day Holofernes commanded all his army and all the people who had come to be his allies, that they should move their camp toward Bethulia, seize the passes of the hill country, and make war against the children of Israel. 2Every mighty man of them moved that day. The army of their men of war was one hundred seventy thousand footmen, plus twelve thousand horsemen, besides the baggage and the men who were on foot among them—an exceedingly great multitude. 3They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, by the fountain. They spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which is near Esdraelon. 4But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were terrified, and everyone said to his neighbor, “Now these men will lick up the face of all the earth. Neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills will be able to bear their weight. 5Every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.

A vast army marches against the small town of Bethulia, an overwhelming multitude of soldiers and horsemen, so many that when the people of Israel see them, they are terrified. These men will lick up the face of all the earth, they say; the mountains and valleys cannot bear their weight. The odds are impossibly against them, the force arrayed against them beyond anything they can match. And yet, though terrified, they take up their weapons, keep watch through the night, and do not simply surrender.

Notice the terror of facing an overwhelming force, and yet the refusal to simply give up. The people were genuinely afraid; the multitude against them was crushing, beyond their power to resist. Their fear was natural, honest. And yet, in their fear, they did not despair or surrender; they kept watch, held their ground, and, as the story will show, God delivered them through the most unlikely means. The overwhelming force was real, and terrifying; but it was not the end of the story.

That is worth remembering when we face what seems overwhelming, a force or difficulty far beyond our power to match. The fear such odds bring is natural; we need not pretend we are not afraid. But overwhelming odds are not the end of the story, for God is able to deliver the outnumbered and outmatched, often through unlikely means. When you face something overwhelming, a trouble or opposition far beyond your strength, do not let the terror of the odds make you despair or surrender. The people of Bethulia were terrified, but held their ground, and God delivered them. God is able to save the outmatched; the overwhelming force against you is not beyond his power to overcome. Hold your ground, keep watch, and trust the God who delivers the outnumbered, rather than surrendering to the terror of odds that seem impossible.

Lord, a vast army marched against the small town of Bethulia, an overwhelming multitude, and the people were terrified, saying these men will lick up the face of all the earth; yet, though afraid, they took up their weapons, kept watch, and did not surrender, and you delivered them through unlikely means. Help me remember that when I face what seems overwhelming, a force or difficulty far beyond my power to match. The fear such odds bring is natural; I need not pretend I am not afraid. But overwhelming odds are not the end of the story, for you are able to deliver the outnumbered and outmatched, often through unlikely means. When I face something overwhelming, a trouble or opposition far beyond my strength, keep the terror of the odds from making me despair or surrender. The people of Bethulia were terrified, but held their ground, and you delivered them. You are able to save the outmatched; the overwhelming force against me is not beyond your power to overcome. Help me hold my ground, keep watch, and trust you, who deliver the outnumbered, rather than surrendering to the terror of odds that seem impossible. Deliver me, Lord, when I am overwhelmed and outmatched.