Battles - 2 October 2007

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

The battles began fairly early, even as they wandered the wilderness for forty years, even before they reached the Promised Land. And when they finally crossed the boundary of the Jordan River there were more and more battles as they took possession of the land that God had given to them. A name of God that appears a lot in the Old Testament is Jehovah Sabaoth; the Lord of Hosts or as Eugene Petersen translates in The Message ‘God of the Angel Armies’. This was because God was the most visible when He won the battles of His people. Strange things happened when the Israelites went to war. Enemies turned and attacked one another, or fled from some unnamed menace, they fell to disease or their military tactics were just not as good as the God inspired Israelites. Jericho fell when Israel blew trumpets and shouted; Gideon’s vastly outnumbered army routed their enemy by breaking jars and waving torches.
It is difficult to relate to God in this way now. But we must not forget that the battles we fight are spiritual and that our lives have another dimension. As we fight against, disease, corruption and the enslavement of souls into evil practices and addictions it is good to know that we have an ultimate power for good on our side.
In a more personal way I find, as I am sure others do, that it is in the smaller decisions I make each day that the battle is being waged. How many times this week have I had to chose between resentment and forgiveness, to keep something for myself or to share it, to be the person who reached out to help instead of walking past on the other side of the road, the one who went the extra mile even when there was no real reward?
And when we pray we see the Lord of Hosts at work, changing circumstances that seemed to be set in stone, bringing grace and forgiveness to our lives and the lives of others, ministering healing and peace and delivering souls from the torment of captivity to sin. The angel armies still fight with us in our own battles against evil.
The lessons we can learn from the Israelite battles are simple. Firstly that they fought for what God had already won for them. God had given them the land; they just had to take it. Similarly as christians we believe Jesus has won the battle against sin and death already and we just have to take it. Secondly they listened to God and obeyed Him. When they did what God told them to they had glorious victory, when they disobeyed they lost the battle. To win our battles it is important that we live our lives in obedience to God.
How would obedience to God help you to win your battles?