Sympathizing with Gideon

Since the adoption process has begun I find myself thinking of Gideon.  After asking God to confirm that he was the one to be used to defeat the Midianites, Judges tells us how God defeated them.

"Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
² The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ³ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.
⁴ And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” ⁵ So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” ⁶ And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. ⁷ And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

So, Gideon started with an army of 22,000 and God narrowed it down to 300, to give Himself more glory, and so the Israelites would know that it was God who defeated the Midianites not themselves.

That is how I feel as of late!  We try to pinch pennies at all times and save wherever we can.  We try to be as financially responsible as we can be and pray about purchases.  However, it seems that since we have begun the adoption process things have begun to spiral out of control.  It seems that something is always in need of repair, like big things. 

The heater needs to be replaced, the car air something or other needs to be replaced, every time we save a bit something goes out.  It is stressful and not how we are used to living.  But as I was worrying and asking God what he was up to, he reminded me of this passage.  He reminded me that this is his pattern throughout scripture.  He makes us small to make his name great.  He is taking our means of paying for this adoption so that we can see HIS provision.

This time in our lives has really made the passages like Luke 18 much more dear knowing that none of us has the ability to provide for ourselves and our family apart from God's grace