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“Doing the Impossible”
Doing the Impossible
Wade Webster
The Bible is filled with what seem to be impossible situations. Just consider a few of them with me.
Defeating a City by Marching Around It’s Walls
The first city that Joshua and the Israelites encountered when they entered the land of Canaan was the walled city of Jericho. The walls of Jericho must have been very intimidating. They were tall and thick. Getting past these walls must have seemed impossible. However, God had a plan. The Israelites were to march around the walls once for six days. Then, on the seventh day, they were to march around the walls seven times, blow horns, and shout (Josh. 6:1-5). From all human vantage points this plan seemed impossible. However, it worked just as God said it would.
Three Hundred Soldiers Against An Innumerable Host
Gideon started with thirty-two thousand soldiers. That number must have seemed like a drop in the bucket in comparison to the Midianites. After all, the Midianites were like grasshoppers for a multitude. Amazingly, God thought that Gideon’s forces were still too many. He did not want the people to think that they had succeeded by their own power. God instructed Gideon to reduce his ranks by letting the fearful go home. Probably, to his amazement, twenty-two thousand went home. (Judg. 7:1-3). Gideon was now left with just ten thousand to face the Midianite hoard. God still thought that Gideon had too many men. Next, God proposed a water drinking test to eliminate a few more. Those who lapped water like a dog were kept and the others were sent home. When all was said and done, Gideon was left with just three hundred men (Judge. 7:4-7). The situation from all human vantage points was impossible. However, with God’s help, Gideon was going to gain a great victory.
Slaying a Giant with a Slingshot
As the youngest of Jesse’s sons, David kept his father’s sheep. One day, Jesse sent David to check on two of his older brothers who were soldiers in the army. When Jesse sent David to check on his brothers and to bring them things from home, David overheard a challenge being issued to the army of Israel by a Philistine bully named Goliath. The challenge left the soldiers of Israel shaking in their boots. Standing roughly nine and a half feet tall, no soldier in Israel felt capable of meeting Goliath in the proposed contest. Amazingly, David volunteered. His offer to fight was met by the disdain of his brothers, the doubt of his king, and the derision of Goliath. David was small and young. Goliath was huge and a man of war. Goliath was heavily armored. David had no armor. Goliath had a huge sword. David had a small sling. From all human vantage points, the situation was hopeless. However, God gave David the victory (1 Sam. 17).
Taking the Gospel to the Entire World
Jesus told His twelve disciples to take the gospel into all the world and to preach the gospel to every creature (Mat. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16). The task must have seemed impossible. How were so few supposed to take the gospel to so many? Yet, that is what God said. The gospel that was first preached in Jerusalem was going to go to the utmost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). Although taking the gospel to the world must have seemed impossible, the disciples got bust and did it. To the Christians in Colosse, Paul wrote, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Col. 1:23).
With God all things are possible (Mat. 19:26). God never requires of man that which cannot be done. He always supplies His people with what they need (Phil. 4:19).
