“Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.” Ecclesiastes 4:9
The Vikings were strong warriors and skilled sailors who lived long ago in places like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. People across northern Europe feared the Vikings because they sailed from town to town, stealing treasure and sometimes burning buildings. In fact, churches would even pray, “God, please protect us from the Vikings!”
One reason the Vikings were so powerful was their special ships. These ships were light and fast, and the Vikings could pull them right up onto the shore That meant they could surprise people, attack quickly, and sail away before anyone could stop them.
But these ships didn’t have motors, so they had to be rowed by hand using oars. The Vikings rowed their own ships, unlike most sailors who would hire rowers or use slaves. That required a lot of strength, practice, and teamwork. Each person had to row at the same time, in the same rhythm, or the boat would go in circles!
So even though the Vikings were strong, they also had to excel at working together. They had to trust each other, follow their leader’s commands, and stay in perfect sync. Without good coordination, they couldn’t have crossed the sea or surprised their enemies. When they jumped off their boats, they fought as a group. Their success came from working as one strong team.
The Vikings’ teamwork reminds me of the story of Gideon. You can read the entire story in Judges 6-7. God told Gideon to lead a battle against a huge army called the Midianites. But over and over God tells Gideon that he has too many men. In the end, Gideon was left with only 300 men! Three hundred against thousands? That’s sounds impossible, but not when you’re on God’s team.
God told Gideon that if the army was too big, the people would think they won by their own strength and wouldn’t give God the credit. So Gideon and his men followed God’s unusual battle plan. At night, they surrounded the enemy camp. Then all at once, they blew trumpets, smashed jars, held up torches, and shouted, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” God confused the Midianites so badly that they ran away and even started to fight each other.
Just like the Vikings rowed together to reach their goal, Gideon’s small team trusted God and followed His plan. We’re stronger when we help each other and work as a team. God didn’t pick Gideon’s army for their muscles, He chose them to show that victory comes from trusting Him and working together.
Remember: just like every Viking had a job on the ship, and every soldier in Gideon’s army had a part to play, you have a special role in God’s plan. And He has chosen you to be on His team.
Kelli Wasemiller is a former Adventist educator who now stays home with her twins. She and her husband, Stephen, live in Rapid City, South Dakota.
