“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!
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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
