ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 55 -Numbers 29-31 (Can an Army Go to War Without a Single Casualty?)
“So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war…. They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed--Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword. Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses; and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.” (Numbers 31:5,8,48-49)
When you have twelve thousand soldiers going to battle against multiple armies on a hand-to-hand combat that are not only greater in number but bigger and more experienced than yours, there can be no other explanation for victory without casualty than that it is a spectacular miracle - and that is exactly what those twelve thousand foot soldiers experienced in our text above.
I love watching war movies and especially the battles in the early days before guns when men had to fight shoulder to shoulder with their fellow warriors against their enemies and I would love to watch a re-creation of the battle of the twelve thousand Israelites who were real-life Ninja warriors - no, more like Jedda warriors. This was what Joshua described when referring to that victory and many other victories of Israel’s army: “For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.” (Joshua 23:9-10)
I can’t help but imagine how different the outcomes of our American soldiers’ battles would be if they and their commanders all the way up to the Commander-in-Chief were all faithful to God as those Jewish soldiers and their leaders were. Without a doubt, we would be victorious in every battle against our enemies.
The Bible likens the Christian life to that of a soldier. The apostle Paul even goes into detail about the significance of this analogy when he exhorts his Christian readers to put on the whole armor of God:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;...” (Ephesians 6:10-16)
No matter what battle you may be facing in your life right now, maybe it’s sickness or financial problem or a problem in a relationship, remain faithful to God and put on His whole armor as described in Ephesians 6 by always applying the truth of God’s Word, living a righteous life, always sharing the gospel to others, believing God’s promises always including victory in your battles, holding on to your assurance of salvation, and finally, fighting not with your own strength but in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment