Economy of Force

The more the concentration can be compressed into one act and one moment, the more perfect are its results. Clausewitz

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. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. Judges 7:20-21

Economy of force is efficiency in fighting, effectiveness in warfare. If our objective is the annihilation of the enemy army, we will take the offensive at the decisive point. In order to do this effectively, the combined application of all principles of war is necessary. This statement by General Erfurth mentions or implies most of the principles of war:

To concentrate overwhelmingly superior members at the decisive points is impossible without strategic surprise. The assembly of the shock-group must be done as quickly as possible in such a way that all units can attack at one and the same time.

Each of the following principles, when applied separately, economizes force. When they are applied in unison, economy of force is achieved. Let us look at each principle in the light of economy of force, realizing that all of them are interdependent:

  1. Objective: The greatest incentive for economizing is to know where you are going and then go there.

  2. Offense: "Going" economizes forces. It takes less force to mount an offense against one point than to defend all points.

  3. Security: If the enemy does not know what we are going to do, we can do it with less force. If he knows, he will then be prepared and we may not be able to do it at all, even with much greater force.

  4. Surprise: This principle certainly allows a commander to do the job with less force.

  5. Mobility: Mobility economizes force by increasing, in effect, the numbers of men and arms. A leader who aims at mobility should not be afraid to strain his troops to the limit in order that they may reach the battlefield in time. Many victories were made possible by forced marches. Mobility equals increase in numbers (Erfurth).

  6. Cooperation: When allied forces advance with a common objective and in unity, they can attain victory with fewer men than if they had acted independently. 7.Concentration: This may seem to be, but is not, the opposite of economy of force. To use one's force in driblets here and there may only result in consistent defeat. But if we concentrate at the decisive points, we are using economy of force.

There is such a thing as over-concentration in places that are not decisive points. "Consequently, the fronts where no decisions are being sought should be manned with a minimum of force" (Erfurth). To concentrate at nondecisive points violates economy of force. It is better to have one's force scattered in driblets at decisive points than to have it concentrated at a nondecisive point.

As we apply the various aspects of the principle of economy of force to the spiritual war in which we are engaged, we can say that any concentration of Christians where there are few or no non-Christians is an overconcentration at a point that is not decisive. To have a concentration of Christians where paganism is thick and rampant is compatible with the principles of war.

Because Christians have a tendency to concentrate at nondecisive points, it may be difficult to get more than a few away from places of mislocated concentration to points where decisive battles are being fought. The few may not be enough for effective concentration, but their proper deployment is a step in the right direction, a step toward economy of force. Not to send a few to the decisive points would violate several principles of war. Economy of force uses what is available to do the job.

When there are many decisive points and the Christians are congregated away from the front, we ought to plead with God for economy of force:

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30, RSV).

Concentration in a noncombatant area is legitimate for training, to receive power or to prepare to attack. If concentration remains after training has been accomplished or if we dilly-dally around in the rear, we will never be ready for war. This is a waste of force!

The Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples:

"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:46-49, RSV ).

The primary objective was "all nations." Jerusalem was the place where power was to be received and from which the early believers were to start after they had received the power. However, they stayed in Jerusalem a prolonged period of time after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Their failure to move out was disobedience to orders. But God finally forced them to leave by allowing persecution. Concentration in the wrong place is not economy of force.

When these principles are combined with an offensive at a decisive point, we are practicing economy of force.

In biblical history the greatest example of these principles combined in one military battle is Gideon's victory over the armies of Midian and Amalek described in Judges 7 and 8. In his God-directed use of economy of force, Gideon sent 31,700 men home and won the battle with 300 men.

The much-needed application of this principle is that we must send to the decisive points people who are willing and ready to go. It may be that, as it was with Gideon, 22,000 are afraid to go and another 9,700 are not ready to go. Thus, perhaps only 300 men are willing and ready to go with the message of Jesus Christ.

It was not God's plan to invite the Midianites and the Amalekites one and two at a time to the IsraelitesŐ home towns where the 31,700 soldiers could take them captive. Nor is it his plan to invite non-Christians one and two at a time into an overconcentration of Christians at a nondecisive point where the believers preach the gospel at each other. It is God's plan to attack the decisive points with victory in mind. There are so many places and so few willing to go that we must economize our force.

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Luke 10:2, RSV ). This is imperative. Jesus Christ tells us to pray that God would send workers. He commands us to do it and tells us why. The harvest is too much for the few reapers. Let us pray for economy of force.

Questions:

  1. Study Judges 7.
  2. Are you willing to obey God even if the rest of the Christians are not willing?
  3. Are you ready to obey God even if the rest of the Christians are not ready?
  4. Will you obey God even if you are alone?