Sometimes change comes and goes and you barely know that it was there, other times it comes on strong and the effects seem to linger, building up until you feel overwhelmed. My family has had a lot of changes lately that seem to be on the lingering side. And since not everyone deals with change in the same way, it has been a little bit of a challenge. I am extremely grateful for the relationships my family members have, we are the type of family that sticks together during difficult times. We support each other and we rely on the Lord when it gets overwhelming. My prayer this morning included thoughts on the changes in my life and the challenges that these changes have brought to my family. My family is not completely overwhelmed, but I think that with so many changes at once we need all the help we can get! I can't think of a better person to ask!
Judges 3:27-30
As I was researching information on these verses I came across one authors saying of: "How Lefty Killed Hefty". I don't know why, but it tickled me and I had to read it! I thought it was actually quite brilliant and wished that I would have thought of that! It would have been the perfect title for my post yesterday. Anyways, on to what I have learned.
Yesterday I focused on the actions of Ehud, today I would like to focus on Israel's deliverance. What did it take for Israel to win the battle?
Following (vv 27-28)
When Ehud returned from killing Eglon, He sounded a ram’s horn and called Israel to arms (vv 27-28).
Trumpets were sounded for several reasons in Israel.
· They were blown to announce a feast.
· They were blown to signal a change of location.
· They were blown to demonstrate joy and to praise the Lord.
· They were blown to call the people to war. That is the purpose here.
God had heard Israel’s prayers and had raised up a deliverer. Ehud had taken the first step toward giving them victory over their enemies. By killing Eglon, he had severed the head of the serpent, now Israel needed to destroy the body. The test now was to see whether they would follow God’s man or not. They did and they achieved a great victory.
Lesson: God has given us everything we need to enable us to have spiritual victories. He has given us the Scriptures, the Spirit, Prayer, Leaders, and His presence in our lives. If we fail to yield to Him and do His will, we can never have victory. But, if we will follow Him, humbly and faithfully, He can and will help us overcome our weaknesses and sin!
Fighting (v 28-29)
Israel cut off the avenues of escape and the means whereby reinforcements could get in. Then, they killed about 10,000 men. The men they killed were “lusty”. That means they were “fat or hardy”. They were “men of valor”. This means that they were men of great "physical strength”. Regardless of their power and military ability, they were defeated by Israel because God gave them the victory.
Lesson: We need not fear the size or the power of our enemies. We are to fight them with everything God has given us. We are to cut off every avenue of escape and every place where the enemy might send reinforcements. We are to fight until every last ounce of the enemy’s strength is gone. We are to fight until the day He calls us home!
Finishing (v 29)
“There escaped not a man”. Israel did not back off until every last one of the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Amalekites in their country had been put to the sword. It was a total victory over the enemy.
Lesson: We are not to tolerate even the tiniest bit of unrighteousness in our lives. Every vestige of unrighteousness must be put to death. We are to live every day, “hating even the garment spotted by the flesh,” (Jude 1:23.)
We all have problems. The message from these verses is a call for us to take the battle. Our problems do not have to carry the day. They do not have to win the victory over us. We can fight and win the battle!
We are lot like Ehud. We are all unlikely conquerors. We are all weak in some way. We are all prone to spiritual failure. But, like Ehud, we can walk in victory. We need to take the word of God, our dagger, hide it away in our hearts (Psa. 119:11), and assassinate the weaknesses in a sneak attack. (Okay, can you tell that I really got into this story!)
I am feeling pumped up and ready to take on the issues in my life. I love that the scriptures can do that! That's what happens when I hide it away in my heart!
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