The tests you face in your family business.

We’ve now seen Gideon call thousands of men to battle the Midianites, only to have God reduce Gideon’s army to 300 to demonstrate His role in their upcoming battle. The reduction happened in two ways. First, Gideon let the people who were “fearful and trembling” step away. Here is the second way God had Gideon reduce the army:

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.” 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.” 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. 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.” (Judges 7:4-7)

What a test! Is there something symbolic about the men who “lapped” their water? There are plenty of theories. But the significance of this test to me is that it challenges Gideon to willingly discard, with confidence, what he knows is a valuable resource for an impending battle in which he’s severely outnumbered. The test challenges Gideon to fully trust God.

We face all kinds of tests in our families and family businesses. I’m sure a family member or in-law might test your patience. A conflict with someone might test your willingness to forgive. A financial downturn might test your commitment to generosity. A retirement transition will certainly test your ability to let go. Seeing these tests through a spiritual lens encourages us to recall God’s care for our lives and to more fully trust Him as we make choices that can seem counter to our intuition, desires, or fears.

What tests have you faced in your family or family business? How do you demonstrate your trust in God during such trials?