"The richness of God's Word ought to determine our prayer,
not the poverty of our heart."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Harnessed for Battle
In the thirteenth chapter of Exodus, there is a curious juxtaposition in verses seventeen and eighteen. In verse seventeen, the children of Israel have just been delivered from captivity in Egypt and the Lord leads them, not to the promised land through the land of the Philistines (a war like and sinful people), but he takes them into the wilderness saying:
"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might (repent) change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:7 NASB
In the very next verse there seems to be a contradiction in the account:
"Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (harnessed) in martial array from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:18 NASB [my emphasis bold]
I have emphasized these two words (in these two verses) to look at a little closer, in order to focus on this seemingly inconsistent account.
The word repent (Strongs 5162) is from the
Hebrew word nacham [naw cham]
this word means: to sigh or breath strongly (as from fear)
to be sorry or pity ones previous action or choice
to rue, pity or repent
So here we have the picture of a people who have:
1- been held in captivity for four hundred years
2- been dramatically and miraculously rescued
and lead out of bondage
3- now being sorry, and quite frankly “being scared to death”
and wanting to go back to captivity rather than face the unknown, or possibility of retaliation from Pharaoh
In today’s language we would probably say they were
“shaking in their boots”.
In the very next verse the Spirit of God tells us they were “harnessed.”
The word harnessed (Strongs 2571) is from the
Hebrew word chamush [khaw moosh]
this word means: to be staunch,
able bodied soldiers
well armed, stout, or harnessed
Here we have quite a different picture
of a people who are marching as an army
totally equipped and ready for battle,
having been trained and armed for the fight,
and willingly ready to enter with purpose and fortitude.
What a curious juxtaposition the Holy Spirit gives us here.
The Old Testament accounts are filled with “types” and “shadows” of eternal truths, that are brought to fruition in the new testament church. Indeed scripture makes it clear that the very physical battles that the nation of Israel faced are mirrors of the spiritual battles that each of us face today individually and corporately.
"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
I Corinthians 10:11 NASB
It is so easy for us to look back at the accounts given in God’s Word and say: “How could they have been so foolish...couldn’t they see what God was doing right before their eyes...how could Peter have denied Jesus?”
Yet these verses, I believe, have a very real and very timely word for us as Christians today. In this Old Testament situation there is a spiritual parallel to our personal walk with the Lord today, as well as to the churches.
Have we not been as the children of Israel?
1- They were held captive in Egypt.
1- We were held captive in Sin.
2- They were delivered miraculously by the mighty hand of God
from the bondage of Egypt and the rule of Pharaoh
2- We have been delivered miraculously by
the mighty hand of God
by faith in His dear Son,
from the bondage of sin (Egypt)
and the rule of Satan (Pharaoh)
3- They were equipped for battle...
given the example that God would fight their battles for them
if they would only trust and obey Him....
"and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."
[spoken by David as he prepared to fight Goliath]
I Samuel 17:47
but....they could not consistently see this
and time after time they fell back into bondage and lost battles because of their low view of God.
3- We as Christians today, stand victorious in Christ Jesus
Hallelujah!
We are equipped and ready for battle... in Him
because “the Battle is” still “the Lord’s” but He has said:
“It is finished!” (John 19:30)
So many times I see brothers, sisters (and myself) struggling with this issue of being equipped for battle, but not being harnessed to the understanding and faith which enables us to move out in the authority and power that Christ has given us. How many times I have fallen short of the mark because I allowed “the prince of this world” to block my vision of the Ancient of Days. Without vision the people perish says Proverbs 29:18.
How often do we struggle with returning to the comfort zone of our sin (our Egypt) and submit to the task-master-pharaoh (satan) rather than to step out in faith and confront the enemy and smite him in the awesome power of the Lord.
"Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11
The Christian today who is effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ is one who is harnessed to the yolk of the Master, one who knows and heeds the voice of The Good Shepherd, one who has an intimate relationship in prayer, praise and meditation - times of intimacy with the Author and Finisher of their faith. One who walks in the light, and is lead by the Spirit, is equipped and able to do battle.
“For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
II Corinthians 10:3-6
May the Lord God Almighty give us vision to see Him face to face, as our buckler and strong tower, that we might be harnessed to see His kingdom established, and His Gospel fulfilled, and His return shortened.
not the poverty of our heart."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Harnessed for Battle
In the thirteenth chapter of Exodus, there is a curious juxtaposition in verses seventeen and eighteen. In verse seventeen, the children of Israel have just been delivered from captivity in Egypt and the Lord leads them, not to the promised land through the land of the Philistines (a war like and sinful people), but he takes them into the wilderness saying:
"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might (repent) change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:7 NASB
In the very next verse there seems to be a contradiction in the account:
"Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (harnessed) in martial array from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:18 NASB [my emphasis bold]
I have emphasized these two words (in these two verses) to look at a little closer, in order to focus on this seemingly inconsistent account.
The word repent (Strongs 5162) is from the
Hebrew word nacham [naw cham]
this word means: to sigh or breath strongly (as from fear)
to be sorry or pity ones previous action or choice
to rue, pity or repent
So here we have the picture of a people who have:
1- been held in captivity for four hundred years
2- been dramatically and miraculously rescued
and lead out of bondage
3- now being sorry, and quite frankly “being scared to death”
and wanting to go back to captivity rather than face the unknown, or possibility of retaliation from Pharaoh
In today’s language we would probably say they were
“shaking in their boots”.
In the very next verse the Spirit of God tells us they were “harnessed.”
The word harnessed (Strongs 2571) is from the
Hebrew word chamush [khaw moosh]
this word means: to be staunch,
able bodied soldiers
well armed, stout, or harnessed
Here we have quite a different picture
of a people who are marching as an army
totally equipped and ready for battle,
having been trained and armed for the fight,
and willingly ready to enter with purpose and fortitude.
What a curious juxtaposition the Holy Spirit gives us here.
The Old Testament accounts are filled with “types” and “shadows” of eternal truths, that are brought to fruition in the new testament church. Indeed scripture makes it clear that the very physical battles that the nation of Israel faced are mirrors of the spiritual battles that each of us face today individually and corporately.
"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
I Corinthians 10:11 NASB
It is so easy for us to look back at the accounts given in God’s Word and say: “How could they have been so foolish...couldn’t they see what God was doing right before their eyes...how could Peter have denied Jesus?”
Yet these verses, I believe, have a very real and very timely word for us as Christians today. In this Old Testament situation there is a spiritual parallel to our personal walk with the Lord today, as well as to the churches.
Have we not been as the children of Israel?
1- They were held captive in Egypt.
1- We were held captive in Sin.
2- They were delivered miraculously by the mighty hand of God
from the bondage of Egypt and the rule of Pharaoh
2- We have been delivered miraculously by
the mighty hand of God
by faith in His dear Son,
from the bondage of sin (Egypt)
and the rule of Satan (Pharaoh)
3- They were equipped for battle...
given the example that God would fight their battles for them
if they would only trust and obey Him....
"and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."
[spoken by David as he prepared to fight Goliath]
I Samuel 17:47
but....they could not consistently see this
and time after time they fell back into bondage and lost battles because of their low view of God.
3- We as Christians today, stand victorious in Christ Jesus
Hallelujah!
We are equipped and ready for battle... in Him
because “the Battle is” still “the Lord’s” but He has said:
“It is finished!” (John 19:30)
So many times I see brothers, sisters (and myself) struggling with this issue of being equipped for battle, but not being harnessed to the understanding and faith which enables us to move out in the authority and power that Christ has given us. How many times I have fallen short of the mark because I allowed “the prince of this world” to block my vision of the Ancient of Days. Without vision the people perish says Proverbs 29:18.
How often do we struggle with returning to the comfort zone of our sin (our Egypt) and submit to the task-master-pharaoh (satan) rather than to step out in faith and confront the enemy and smite him in the awesome power of the Lord.
"Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11
The Christian today who is effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ is one who is harnessed to the yolk of the Master, one who knows and heeds the voice of The Good Shepherd, one who has an intimate relationship in prayer, praise and meditation - times of intimacy with the Author and Finisher of their faith. One who walks in the light, and is lead by the Spirit, is equipped and able to do battle.
“For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
II Corinthians 10:3-6
May the Lord God Almighty give us vision to see Him face to face, as our buckler and strong tower, that we might be harnessed to see His kingdom established, and His Gospel fulfilled, and His return shortened.
30
fkj
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