God's Coaching #305

God's Coaching #305

Sometimes a strong team makes up for the lack of a superstar. It happened November 1, 2010, when the San Francisco Giants won their first World Series championship since moving to the City by the Bay in 1958.

Oh, the Giants had come close to claiming baseball’s greatest prize in 1962 and in 1989. They should have won it in 2002 when all-time home-run king Barry Bonds led the team. Barry played like a superstar, and the Giants were only six outs away from victory. In the eighth inning of game six, the Giants were up 5–3, but the miraculous Anaheim Angels snatched a comeback victory. The Angels won the series the next night.

But the 2010 Giants were a team without superstars. Sure, they had the two-time Cy Young Award–winning pitcher Tim Lincecum. But no one had expected the Giants to come close to making it to the World Series, much less win it. Their underdog cast buried its egos and worked hard to find little ways to defeat the Texas Rangers in five games. A 3–1 victory on this day delivered a championship that even the big-name Giants of history couldn’t claim.

What’s the Score?

There will always be superstars, but it takes a team to win a championship. When everybody contributes, it makes victory even more satisfying and puts the credit where it should be—on the hard work of the whole group.

God wanted to teach his people a similar lesson in ancient Israel by choosing Gideon to lead his people. Gideon was no superstar. He gathered the biggest army he could. That sounds like a good idea when you’re going to fight a war, right? God said, “Nope, too many fighters.” God wanted a small band of underdogs to gain the victory, which would ultimately show his power. God told Gideon to fight in a really weird way—by blowing horns and smashing clay pots! Read about the battle in Judges 7. But it worked. Israel triumphed. God got the credit. And the people turned their hearts back to him. That’s God’s kind of championship!

On the Ball

Are you a superstar? It could be in the classroom instead of on a sports field. How can you stay humble, help your teammates reach their potential, and give the credit to God? Write down some ideas:

Coach’s Comment

The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.” Judges 7:2