I watched Joan of Arcadia last night. While some may have theological disagreements with aspects of the program, it does offer some valuable lessons at times. At the end of last night’s episode (Something Wicked This Way Comes), Joan was facing the prospect of doing battle with a (self-made) enemy of God . She complained to God (she’s in good company) that she didn’t have an army like the other Joan [of Arc], and was all alone. God gestured to her motley group of friends sitting at a distance. With an exasperated look, Joan reiterated her own estimation of being all alone.

I couldn’t help but think of Gideon (Judges chapter 6), who wanted to go to battle against the Midianite multitude with his own army of thousands, but the Almighty pared his entourage down to a mere 300 – and in the end they didn’t fight at all; they lit some torches, broke some clay jars, and shouted (there’s a whole other sermon for another time). The battle belonged to the Lord.

The theme of the Almighty accomplishing great things through very humble means runs throughout the Bible: An 80-year-old Moses walked into Egypt with a staff to deliver his people. David killed the menace Goliath with a single stone from a slingshot. The Messiah was born in a rural cave. Jesus fed 5000-plus people with five loaves and two fish.

In the first epistle to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Cor.1:27-29 NKJV)

In the 22nd chapter of Luke’s gospel, we read where Jesus is nearing the time of His arrest and crucifixion. He told His disciples to prepare themselves with provisions (money bag, knapsack, and a sword if possible) for the challenge they are about to face. They informed the Master that they had two swords among them. He answered “It is enough.”

I really don’t think that Jesus actually expected His disciples to slash up people ­– otherwise He would have demanded that they arm themselves further. I think that the swords were simply an encouragement for them to step forward. God could have parted the Red Sea without a stick, but Moses wouldn’t have ever walked into Egypt without his staff in hand.

Are you facing a battle today? From a worldly perspective, you may not have enough to go up against it. But if your battle is one of the Lord’s choosing, you have a distinct advantage being on His side. He can do miraculous things with very little. Take what you do have and step forward. It is enough.