Are You Battle Ready???
Do you want to have a comfortable life? One where everything goes according to plan, and you get to do whatever you want. Do you want a life free from struggle? Do you want a life where you don’t have to worry about anything, or rely on anyone else to help you?
Having too much comfort and leisure and not having much adversity in your life makes you soft. The struggle for each and every day of your life makes a person strong even when they think they are weak and worn out.
Romans 5:3-4 says “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
In John 16:33, Jesus himself says “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
After the people of Israel had conquered much of the land of Canaan, and the surrounding region, they settled down and became comfortable. And in their comfort they drifted away from the instructions and guidance God (Yahweh) had left with Moses, and they began to absorb some of the pagan beliefs and cultural practices of those groups that surrounded them.
In Judges 3:1-4 it is noted that…“These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle. These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.”
The list of people that God allowed to stay in the region (note that these same people groups or regions are still causing problems for the people of Israel) is almost inconsequential. It is the reasoning behind their continued presence that is the important point that we should take notice of.
A) They Weren’t Battle Ready: Firstly, it says that the Lord left those opposing people there to test the people of Israel who had grown too comfortable in their lives, and their lifestyles that they had not known what it is like to fight for their existence.
As we have seen in the past month of so with the events unfolding in Israel - There is a passion, a fervour of faith, and a determination to hold onto the righteous values of life in those who are fighting to protect their families, their neighbours, their towns, and their nation.
Yet, in the time that these verses are set in, the people had become complacent and comfortable…they had become soft, lazy and not concerned about their spiritual and physical safety.
It should illuminate and hold up a mirror to our own condition and level of readiness - both physically and spiritually. Are we ready to truly stand up and be counted to fight…to fight in the spiritual realm but praying and studying the word (not ready brief, pithy, devotionals in the morning before ewe rush out the door) and calling upon the name of our Lord and Christ - Jesus?
Are we actually prepared to physically fight for the lives of our family, or our neighbours if people come to harm them? Are we even prepared to hide others in our homes if the masses come for them - just as the Nazi’s came after the Jews in WW2?
You need to answer these questions, and do so honestly. For there is a time rapidly approaching when we - as Christians - are going to need to stand firm in our faith, and stand against evil.
If God is enabling you to go through a period of significant struggle then he is preparing you for battle. Use that time wisely - do not sulk and whine about how hard life is, but rather use that time to strengthen yourself and prepare yourself for the battles that are to come.
B) They Weren’t Following God’s Word: Secondly, those groups were left in the region to test the people of Israel if they would obey the Word of God, the same words that Yahweh had given Moses in the desert, and had been passed down from generation to generation.
Only the Word of God can bring a restoration of the relationship with Yahweh that has been broken in humanities sinful state. Only the Word of God can build us up to fighting strength. Only the Word of God can guide us through the darkest of times.
In these dark days where evil abounds… we need to call out to Yahweh…call out to Yeshua…And dive deep into the Word of God so that you may be battle ready!!!
I pray that in these difficult days, whatever situation you find yourself in, wherever you live, Jesus (Yeshua) is your foundation and not your emotions, not your lifestyle, not your friends, not your wealth (or lack thereof), and certainly not the ways of the world. May the Word of God strengthen and equip you for the battle that are to come.