Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Rivers, the Sea, Horses and Chariots Habakkuk 3:8 - Equipped for Battle

We have been learning from Habakkuk a wonderful way to conduct ourselves whenever we do not understand what God is doing. We remember our past, and as Habakkuk was recalling the past appearances of God in the activities of the Israelites as they left Egypt, we begin to understand that God had a plan back then, and He has one now. Habakkuk continues his description of God in chapter three and verse eight which says:

Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? [was] your anger against the rivers? [was] your wrath against the sea, that you did ride upon your horses [and] your chariots of salvation?

In the book of Exodus in chapters thirteen through fifteen we read of the account of the escape of the people of Israel from Egypt. They were lead to what looked like an inevitable capture and destruction with mountains on both sides of them and only the Red Sea in front of them. The Egyptians were quickly approaching them from behind. There was no way out in their own minds, and certain defeat was to be their fate. But alas, God had a plan, and it was a plan that none of them thought of before. God simply parted the Red Sea, and the children of Israel crossed over it with walls of water on both sides.

Habakkuk asks, “Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers? Was your wrath against the sea...” The rivers and the sea were created by God, and there would be no resistance to His desire for them. They obeyed His command, and Israel was saved. The elements were not objects of God's displeasure, anger or wrath. They were simply tools in His hand to rescue the ones He loved. We do well to keep in mind that God has used the elements of nature to rescue His beloved in the past, and should He desire to move Heaven and Earth to save us, He can.

Habakkuk continues, “that you did ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?” The Egyptians thought themselves able to cross the Red Sea as well when they watch the children of Israel cross over, but they were wrong. As soon as they drove their armies into the Sea and presumed themselves able to do as the Israelites, the waves receded, and they were destroyed. The waves became God's “horses and chariots” or weapons of defense by which He eliminated the problem pursuers of Israel. In other words, our Heavenly Father had the elements at hand to use in any manner He desire to defend against Israel's foes.

When we face difficulties that seem impossible, and there seems no way out and no where to turn, we would be well-advised to look to the one who created the Universe and to whom the entire creation is at His disposal. Paul the apostle asked an important question in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verse thirty-two:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God gave His most precious Son to die for our sins, and nothing can compare to His value. If God so did this and we believe in Him, how much more should we believe that no matter how bleak our circumstances may appear at the moment, God will move rivers, seas, horses and chariots to intercede on our behalf should the need arise?

Next time we shall continue to remember the appearances of God in Israel's past, 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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