What Old Testament story might Paul have had in mind when he wrote this verse (2 Corinthians 4:7)? Tell the story.

The story Paul had in mind was Gideon, from the book of Judges, a great illustration of grace made perfect through weakness. Israel had been brought very low by raiding Midianites, and young Gideon was so terrified of the enemy that he was hiding in a pit threshing wheat when the preincarnate Christ appeared and called him a valiant warrior, seeing him not as what he was but as what God would make of him. Gideon gathered 32,000 men against 135,000 Midianites, but God said they were too many, lest Israel boast that its own power had delivered it; so the fearful were sent home, leaving 22,000 fewer, and a test of alertness reduced the army to just 300. God gave each man only a trumpet, an empty pitcher, and a torch, and when at Gideon's word they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers, the light shone out, the Lord set every enemy's sword against his neighbor, and the army fled. We are the clay pots, the glory of Christ is the torch, and the Gospel is the trumpet; when the vessel is broken, the light shines through.