Harnessed for Battle

“Whenever the enemy tries to bring us back under anxiety
we may separate ourselves from it by thanking God that the problem is His
instead of once again assuming the care of it ourselves.”
Robin McMillan – “David’s 400”

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:

17Now 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 change their minds (repent*)
when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:17 NASB [my emphasis bold]

In the very next verse there seems to be a contradiction in the account:

“But God led the people about,
through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea:
and the children of Israel went up harnessed* out of the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 13:18 (KJV) [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
both individually and corporately.

“All these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
I Corinthians 10:11

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.
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
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 all the assembly shall know that the Lord
saveth not with sword and 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.

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 myself and brothers, sisters
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.

“As a dog returneth to his vomit,
so a fool returneth to 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 exalteth 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

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