God’s Children Will Always Be the World’s Enemy
“We must prepare for fresh conflicts and enemies. We must make no peace or truce with the power of darkness, nor even treat with them; nor should we expect any pause in our contest. But, trusting in God, and obeying His commands, we shall be more than conquerors over every enemy.” – Matthew Henry.
Israel begins its conquest of the Promised Land, though they don’t initiate the fight. First, the king of the Amorites attacks and is destroyed. Then the king of Bashan arrogantly doesn’t learn from the Amorites’ defeat and attacks Israel, only to be defeated as well. The Israelites have not even crossed the Jordan, and they are already winning land and settling in cities.
I love the Matthew Henry quote from above because, not only does it tie into the Israelites experience in today’s reading but, it is a great reminder for us today. The Israelites asked for safe passage through the territory of the Amorites. The Amorites not only refused but attacked them. As we live our lives and witness the happenings of the world through social media and news outlets, we can clearly see the world growing ever more hostile towards Christians. Though, as we look back throughout history, we can clearly see Satan working through non-believers to torment and attack God’s people in all of it. We see it in our reading today. The Israelites were attacked for no other reason than that they existed.
God’s people have always stood at odds with Satan’s. We don’t like to say that much. It feels taboo to label those who do not know or love the Lord as belonging to the devil, but scripture tells us it is true. John 8:42-44 records Jesus saying, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but He sent me. Why do you not understand what I say: It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him.” The truth is that before we were saved through faith in the power of the cross, we belonged to Satan. He manipulated and used us the same way he does those still in bondage to sin. You can be a good person and still belong to the devil. Only Jesus gives us new life with a new Father and a new destiny. That is why we must be born again. Our first life was corrupted. Our new life in Christ seals us for perfection – not that we have achieved it yet.
As we go about our life, obediently following our God, we will find many who anxiously wait to attack us. We don’t have to provoke their wrath. Our very existence offends them. But… God gave the Israelites the victory. They were not even expecting to gain land and cities before they crossed the Jordan River. These wandering Israelites became settled, conquering Israelites. The truth of today’s reading is that God can and will bring us the victory when we follow faithfully. It may not always be mess-free. The Israelites did have to fight two wars afterall. Surely there were many who died on the battlefield as they walked in obedience. But the victory… the plunder… the cities… the safety was given to those men’s descendants, family, and friends. We fight the good fight because we have a good, good Father. We fight the good fight because victory belongs to the Lord, and sometimes we get to share in it.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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