Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

Three Hundred – Faith

There is a very strong correlation in the scriptures between the number 300 and the subject of faith.  This correlation is so strong that the words faith and its derivatives, faithful, faithfully, and faithfulness occur exactly 300 times in the King James translation of the New Testament.  In addition, the words, believe and its derivatives, belief, believeth, believing, and believer occur exactly 300 times in the scriptures.  There are between 30 and 40 writers of the Old and New Testaments whose writings spanned about a thousand years.  There is no way they could have collaborated together to come out with such statistics.  This was by the leadership of the Holy Spirit that such a correlation has been made even to the number of times the words appear in the scriptures. 

We will consider several examples of the appearance of the number three hundred and its corresponding aspects of the subject of faith.  We will look at Enoch, the ark, Joseph's gift to Benjamin, Gideon and the three hundred, and the shields of Solomon.  We will also look at feigned or counterfeit faith and its correlation to the number 300 as well.

Enoch Walked With God for 300 Years 

Gen. 5:21 "And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

The bible number 300 is associated with the subject of faith.  Enoch walked with God for three hundred years after the birth of his first-born son Methuselah.  Paul said, "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (2 Cor. 5:7).  To walk with God requires a walk by faith and not by sight, i.e., not by human reason or human logic or trusting in human qualities and abilities.  In Amos 3:3, a question is asked and the answer is implied by the question: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"  The only way that a person can walk with God is that he be agreed with God.  Since God will not change nor can he change, then we must walk with God on God's terms. 

There are two ways that we can live our lives.  We can live our lives based on our own human reason, logic, and abilities.  We can believe that we can solve any of life's problems, trials, or difficulties, or that we can bring about our own joy or happiness through our reason, logic, or ability.  This is a walk by sight. 

The other way that we can live our lives is to trust in God to supply our needs and to give us direction in life, and to deliver us in times of trial, problems, tribulations, and difficulties.  In addition, we can trust in God to give us an understanding of his word and to direct the path of our lives including who we marry, where we work, what we do with our lives, and how we use the gifts' that God has given us to serve Him and to serve others.  This is walking by faith. 

Heb. 11:5 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  Walking by faith not only gives us a fellowship with God, but it is pleasing to God.  Enoch pleased God when he walked by faith with God for three hundred years.  What a great testimony Enoch's life is to us that he walked with God for three hundred years and that he pleased God by so doing.  Likewise, when we walk by faith and not by sight, it is a testimony to those around us.  The joy and peace we possess when we walk by faith is a testimony to others that God is pleased with us. 

"But without faith it is impossible to please him."  A person who has not been born of the Spirit cannot have faith, as faith is a fruit of the Spirit.  Thus, such a person cannot please God.  However, a person can be born of the Spirit and yet not walk by faith.  Likewise, this individual's walk, also, is not pleasing to God.  When we walk by faith, we please God.  When we fail to walk by faith, we are not pleasing God.  It is far better to walk by faith and to please God.

God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  When we diligently walk by faith, as Enoch did, then we have the assurance that God will bless us in our walk.  While I do not profess to know all the ways that God may bless us in our walk by faith, I am sure that he will bless us abundantly when we diligently walk by faith.

Gideon and the Three Hundred 

Because of disobedience to the commandments of God and because of turning their back on the service of God, the children of Israel at times were delivered into bondage to other nations.  At that time, they would cry unto the Lord for deliverance and the Lord would hearken unto their cry and deliver them.  This was the setting in the days of Gideon, who became a judge over Israel.

Judg. 6:1 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."

The Midianites and the children of the east had come up and robbed Israel and destroyed the increase of the earth.  Now, they were come up to destroy Israel.  They came up in huge numbers.  They were like grasshoppers and the number of them could not be numbered for multitude.  This may have been the largest army ever assembled from the foundation of the world. 

The Lord raised up Gideon to lead the children of Israel in their battle against this gigantic army.  Gideon sent messengers to gather the children of Israel who were willing to fight in the battle and there came to him 32,000.  My first thought was 32,000 against this army that cannot be numbered for multitude, they will really have to trust in the Lord for the Lord to deliver such a great army into the hands of so few.  However, God seeth not at man seeth.  Judg. 7:2 "And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand." 

With this, the Lord had trimmed the 32,000 to 10,000.  Certainly, the Lord will receive all the glory and not man with only 10,000 to fight against the gigantic army of the Midianites and the children of the east.  Yet God was not through trimming the army of Israel:

Judg. 7:4 "And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.   6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place." 

The Lord was sending 300 men to fight against the great host of the Midianites, Amelikites, and the children of the east.  Numbers are not important to the Lord.  The Lord can deliver with the few.  The power of deliverance was not in the hands of the few but in the hands of the Lord.  However, the Lord delivers by few when they trust in him. 

Trusting in the Lord means doing things the Lord's way, even when we do not understand the Lord's way and it does not necessarily make sense to us. 

Judg. 7:16 "And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath."

Each of the three hundred men had a trumpet in one hand and a pitcher in the other hand and a lamp inside the pitcher.  At the appointed time, they broke the pitcher and the lamp shined forth and they blew with the trumpet saying, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon."  At this, the enemy began to destroy themselves down to the ground. 

In the New Testament church, we have something similar to this.  First, we are told to mortify the deeds of the flesh (break the pitcher):

    1.  Rom. 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

    2.  Col. 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Next, we are to let our light shine: Mat. 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  By this, we are to live our lives to the praise, honor, and glory of God and in so doing others will see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven.

Furthermore, we are to blow the gospel trumpet of truth, saying, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon."  The bible is the "sword of the Lord": Eph. 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Thus, the word of God is not only the Lord's sword, but it is our sword also, by which we war against our enemies: the devil, the flesh, and the world. 

By following this pattern, we are able through the Lord's power to overcome the enemies that war against us.  Let us remember only a few fights on the Lord's side in this battle.  However, the Lord's few are mightier through the Lord than the multitude that stands against us.   

Joseph's Gift to Benjamin 

Gen. 45:21 "And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment."

Joseph was the next to the youngest child of Jacob.  He was the oldest son of Rachel.  Jacob had ten sons and they envied Joseph, as he was his father's favorite.  Because of their envy, they sold Joseph into Egyptian bondage.  Joseph is a very strong type of Christ.  There are over one hundred parallels in the life of Joseph with the life of Jesus Christ. 

While in Egyptian bondage, God blessed Joseph and eventually he became second only to Pharaoh in the Egyptian kingdom.  As his name was changed, his brethren knew not that it was Joseph who was second only to Pharaoh.  There came a famine in the land and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food that the descendants of Jacob die not.  The brethren of Joseph knew not that it was Joseph who was selling them food, but Joseph knew whom they were. 

In the process of time, Joseph made himself known to his brethren and at first, they were very afraid, but Joseph comforted them.  It was at this time that Joseph gave the gifts unto his brethren.  To each of the ten older brothers he gave a change of raiment, but to the younger brother, Benjamin, Joseph gave five changes of raiment and three hundred pieces of silver. 

Since Joseph is a type of Christ, we see that the gifts given to the eleven brothers of Joseph parallel the gifts that Christ has given to his brethren (the elect family of God).  To each of the brethren there is given a change of raiment.  All of the elect were clothed in unrighteousness because of the sin of Adam.  Through the atoning blood of Christ, all of the elect are now clothed in the righteousness of Christ: 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  Thus, all of the elect have a change of raiment from the unrighteousness of their fleshly nature to being clothed with the imputed righteousness of Christ.  As a result, they will all be housed in heaven's glory world. 

Benjamin, however, received more than the other brethren.  He received five changes of raiment and three hundred pieces of silver.  Likewise, the disciples of Christ in his true church receive more than other children of God.  They receive an understanding of the covenant of redemption.  The covenant of redemption is a five part covenant.  In this covenant, the disciples of Christ learn that they have "five changes of raiment."  The covenant of redemption is set forth for us in Rom. 8:29, 30: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."  God foreknew, predestinated, called, justified, and glorified the elect in covenant before the foundation of the world.  This knowledge and understanding of the covenant of redemption sets the true church of Christ apart from all other belief systems.  Those adherents in the primitive church, therefore, have these five changes of raiment: foreknew, predestinated, called, justified, glorified in their belief system. 

Furthermore, to the true church there is delivered "the faith that was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).  The faith that was once delivered to the saints is the true system of doctrine, practice, and government of the true New Testament church.  In this faith, there is only one gospel: Gal. 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  The true gospel is the "gospel of the grace of Christ."  Any other gospel is a perverted gospel and Paul said let such as preach a perverted gospel be accursed.  There are many so-called gospels in the world today, but only one true gospel. 

This faith that was once delivered to the saints is clearly spelled out in the New Testament.  Since the scriptures are a thorough furnisher unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16, 17), the doctrine, practice, and government of the New Testament church will be thoroughly spelled out for us in the New Testament.  If a group of people have unscriptural practices, or have doctrines not taught in the bible, or have a government that is anti-scriptural then it is because it is not the true church.  No where in the scriptures do you find a Sunday school, schools of Theology, salaried ministry, instrumental music in the New Testament church, hierarchal government, women preachers or deacons, church choirs, tithing in the New Testament church, or church auxiliaries. 

The three hundred pieces of silver speaks to us of the preciousness of the "faith that was once delivered to the saints.  We should desire to keep the "faith that was once delivered to the saints" and not change it in any way. 

Noah's Ark – Three Hundred Cubits Long 

The ark that God instructed Noah to build was a figure of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This we are told in 1 Pet. 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 

In the above passage, the ark is said to be a like figure with water baptism of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Armed with this knowledge, we can look at the ark knowing that it is a figure of Christ.  A description of the ark is given to us in Gen. 6:13-16 "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.  And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.  A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it."

Since the ark is a figure of Christ, the dimensions that God gives us of the ark testify to us of the nature and qualities of Christ.  The length of the ark is three hundred cubits.  Three hundred is associated in the scriptures with the subject of faith.  In some ways it may seem difficult for us to think of Christ as having faith.  Since Christ is the Son of God and created all things and since he knows all things even the end from the beginning, then how could Christ have faith?  The scriptures plainly tell us that he did have faith:

    1.  Rom. 3:22 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

    2.  Gal. 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

    3.  Gal. 3:22 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."

    4.  Phil. 3:9 "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"

    5.  Gal. 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Very plainly, the above scriptures tell us of the faith of Jesus Christ.  Yet it is not a faith based on a lack of knowledge, but it is the faithfulness of the Lord to the covenant that he made with the Father before the foundation of the world.  Jesus is the executor of the covenant of redemption.

The covenant of redemption is stated for us in Rom. 8:29, 30: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."  That Jesus is the executor of this covenant is made known to us in Is. 46:9-11 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."  Jesus is the man who executeth the counsel of God from a far country.  He came down from heaven to do the Father's will. 

Jesus calls us to spiritual life.  Jesus justified us by his blood.  Jesus will come again in the morning of the resurrection to raise us from the grave.  The faith of Jesus is his faithfulness to execute the covenant he made with the Father before the foundation of the world. 

The Shields of Solomon 

King Solomon and the children of Israel were blessed of God to build the temple and to build the King's house.  David had admonished Solomon to build the houses according to the pattern that God had given him: 1 Chr. 28:11 "Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:"  Therefore, of all that Solomon and the children of Israel built in connection with the temple and the king's house was according to God's pattern.

Among the items that Solomon had for the King's house were the king's shields: 2 Chr. 9:15 "And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target. 16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 

Not only were there three hundred shields made, but they were each made of three hundred shekels of gold.  Since the number three hundred is associated with the subject of faith, we see that faith is both a shield for the child of God and is also something very precious to the child of God. 

Faith is a shield for the child of God.  We are told in Ephesians chapter 5 to put on the whole armor of God.  A part of the armor we are to put on is described in verse 16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."  We are told to put this one on above all.  How do we put on the shield of faith?  The Lord illustrated that for us in Matthew chapter 4 when he was tempted of the devil after fasting for forty days and forty nights. 

Matt. 4:3 "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  While it is true that God cannot be tempted with sin, yet he showed us how to use the shield of faith.  When Satan appealed to the hunger that would have resulted from fasting for forty days and forty nights, the Lord responded by saying, "It is written…"  In other words, the Lord used that which is written as a shield against the wiles of the devil.  Three times in this chapter, the Lord used "It is written" as a shield against the wiles of the devil. 

Likewise, by faith we are to take what is written to shield us against the enticements of Satan to sin.  David said in Ps. 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."  To hide God's word in our heart we should read it, study it, and meditate upon it, and ask God for wisdom to apply it.  When we hide God's word in our heart, then when we are tempted to sin, we can react by faith, trusting in the word of God. 

Faith is also very precious as we read in 1 Peter 1:6, 7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"  In the midst of tribulations and trials our faith is put to the test.  When we react to those tribulations and trials by trusting in God and his word, our faith is then found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.  We are made to rejoice in his timely deliverances and in seeing the end of our faith. 

Three Hundred and Counterfeit Faith 

There is a strong correlation in the scriptures between the number three hundred and the subject of faith.  While most of the time this correlation points us to a positive aspect of faith, there are a few times that it points us to a counterfeit faith.  That which is counterfeit looks similar to the authentic, yet differences can be seen when closely examined.

In the book of John, we look at an accusing question raised by Judas the traitor: John 12:3-8 "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.  Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always." 

Judas did not care for the poor, but he had the money bag and he wanted the money therein.  Judas gave as a reason for his actions, giving to the poor.  The counterfeit faith is money based.  The motivation for the actions of those who promote this counterfeit faith is to collect large sums of money.  How often has money been collected for the poor and the "poor" preacher has gotten a hefty sum of it?  Today, in our society, we have preachers who have become very rich through "preaching."  How different this is to what we read of Peter, who said, "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). 

Likewise, we read Paul's admonition to the elders at Ephesus: "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 28:33-35).           

The Lord said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matt. 7:15-20).  These give an appearance of being righteous and religious, but their fruit shows they are a counterfeit. 

Next, those who promote a counterfeit faith try to overwhelm the true with sheer numbers of adherents: 2 Chr 14:9 "And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah."  This host was far greater than anything that Judah could come up with in sheer numbers.  Yet, Israel was much mightier because the Lord was with them and overcame this great host: 2 Chr. 14:10 "Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled."  The Lord said concerning the true church: Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Three hundred of the counterfeit faith are no match for one man who truly trusts in the Lord: 2 Sam 23:18 "And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three."

Furthermore, the goal of the counterfeit faith is to bring people into bondage: 2 Sam 21:16 "And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David."  Brass and iron are metals in the bible associated with bondage. 

Great multitudes of the Lord's people are in bondage to the works system of salvation taught by the counterfeit faith adherents.  Paul prayed for these saying, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom. 10:1-4).  Paul's prayer was that God's people by saved from their ignorance and from going about trying to establish their own righteousness through the religious works systems.