“300”

 

300 is a familiar number, especially in sports:

*A baseball player is considered a good hitter if his batting average is .300

*A pitcher is almost always assured of a place in the Hall of Fame if he reaches 300 career wins (24 have achieved this milestone in Major League history)

*30 pitchers have reached the 300 save milestone

*Three NFL coaches have accumulated 300 victories (George Halas, Don Shula and Bill Belichick)

*300 (12 straight strikes) is a perfect game in bowling (I haven’t come close!)

*300 is a terrible golf score (thankfully I haven’t come close here either!)

*In a non-sports area, 300 is the lowest possible Fair Isaac credit score

*300 years ago (1720) the three most populous cities in the American Colonies were Boston (12,000), Philadelphia (10,000) and New York (7,000). (In 2019 New York at #1 was home to 8,337,000; Philadelphia #6 with 1,584,000 residents and Boston #23 at 693,000.)

Probably the most familiar 300 in Scripture is the account of “Gideon’s 300” in Judges 6 and 7. Two other occurrences I found are Samson’s capture of 300 foxes and using them to destroy Philistine fields as an act of retaliation recorded in Judges 15:1-5 and “…Enoch walked with God 300 years….” (Genesis 5:22). Some scholars maintain that the number refers to divine deliverance. In Gideon’s case he was called by the angel of the Lord to lead Israel’s army against Midian. After the “fleece test” (Judges 6:36-40) Gideon assumed leadership of a force of 32,000 soldiers which God whittled down to 300 so that “…Israel may not boast…that her own strength had saved her….” (Judges 7:2). Using unlikely military equipment of trumpets, jars and torches God won a great victory and set the Israelites free from their enemy. The story illustrates how seemingly insignificant instruments, including people like you and me, can be used to fulfill His purposes as they’re given to Him (“…God chose the foolish…weak…lowly…despised…so that no one may boast before him.”—1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

On a personal note, this is Article #300 since I began writing this column six years ago. I thank God for putting the thoughts in my mind and guiding their transition to words on a page. I’ve been blessed to have this opportunity and pray that others may benefit. “To (God) be the glory and the power for ever and ever.” (1 Peter 4:11).

 

Grace and Blessings! 

                                                                 Jim McMillan