How do the enemies of God
react when He comes against them? When God's power is raised, no foe
or opponent can stand in His path, and all who rise up against Him
shall fall, but when they do, what is their reaction? We have been
learning from Habakkuk that God is not aloof and uncaring about our
situations, but He indeed has a plan. As with Habakkuk God's delay
doesn't mean indifference or apathy, and today we have more examples
from Israel's past to declare God's activism in their future.
Habakkuk wrote in chapter three and verse seven:
I saw the tents of
Cushan in affliction: [and] the curtains of the land of Midian did
tremble.
When
Israel left Egypt for the promise land, it was not without
opposition. There were nations that were against Israel, and
sometimes it caused them to battle with them. The Cushanites were
some of these, and when God sided with His chosen people Israel, the
nomadic tribes of Cushan were in affliction. There is no one stronger
than God, and if affliction is His weapon of retribution, He has it
at His disposal.
Next
Habakkuk wrote: “and the curtains of the land of Midian did
tremble.” Not only were the opponents of Israel afflicted, but
the very thought of God coming against them made them fear
exceedingly. The book of Exodus in chapter fifteen and verses
fourteen through sixteen state:
The people shall hear,
[and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of
Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of
Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of
Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the
greatness of your arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till your
people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] you have
purchased.
In the
book of Judges in chapter seven the story of Gideon and the
Midianites was recorded. There we find the fear of the Midianites
because of the reputation of the God of Israel. They were trembling
at just the thought of God arriving on the scene, and when it came
time for Gideon to claim victory, he and just three hundred men
conquered thousands who opposed them.
Habakkuk
continues to use these examples from Israel's past to declare an
affirmative for God appearing in the present and future. This is a
great path to follow. We often have situations and circumstances
about which we have no idea what to do. We have opponents from time
to time, and their attacks seem vicious and relentless. We may wonder
if God cares, and sometimes we don't even know how to pray about
these things. Today we have been reminded to remember. Remember the
times when God came through before. Remember the times when opponents
turned from confidence to fear because they were now encountering the
Almighty God. Remember the past appearances of God to strengthen our
faith in that which He will do. He's God, and none have victory over
Him, and we are promised by His Son Jesus Christ that no weapon
formed against us shall prosper, and all who rise up against us shall
fall. May we remember our past to have confidence in Our Heavenly
Father for our futures.
Next time we shall
continue to see God demonstrate His power over other nations by
looking at what He did to Egypt, so read ahead, and we shall join
together then.
Until tomorrow...there
is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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