“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” ( 2 Chronicles 20:15)

Having enemies is not something to fancy in life. Yet life as it were such do come by, regardless-particularly for those at the center of God’s work! There are three cases worthy of reflection that could be of help to any caught up in such an unenviable situation.

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, having fought off Pharaoh, in a way his troubles were just starting. As the journey to the promised land delayed a furious opposition rose from within, including once Moses’s own family members. “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Is it true that the Lord has spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it” ( Numbers 12:1-2). Then there was Korah too. “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council”              (Numbers 16:1-2)

For David almost immediately once it became clear God’s favour was upon him, he became a target. As David became popular on the battle field, Saul’s jealousy took on gigantic proportions and he once attempted to execute him, “Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice” (Numbers 18: 12-11). Later on his own son Absalom would mount a coup against his throne ( 2 Samuel 15).

The Apostle Paul was not spared of enemies. As he went about sharing the Gospel, “Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas” ( Acts 14:2). Enemies penetrated his ranks. Writing to Timothy, he noted, “Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God” ( I Timothy 1:20).

All these examples, and there are many more, show when it comes to carrying out God’s work enemies come with the territory. Yet God comes and gives victory, “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory”             ( Deuteronomy 20:4).

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, even as I encounter enemies in doing your work, my comfort is in you, for you have gone ahead of me, to bring me victory, this I pray in Jesus’s name!