In the book of Judges we learned, “when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them”, and in chapter six and verse four of Judges, we learn, “they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth” where we read,
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth,
till you come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
The verse reads, “And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, …” The writer began with the words, “and they encamped against them” which means “and they, “the Midianites, Amelekites and the people of the east” lay siege, pitch their tents and dwelt in opposition to them, the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel”, “and destroyed” or “and corrupted, ruined and spoiled” “the increase of the earth” which means “the produce, fruit and crop belonging to the cultivated land, ground and territory”. The writer shared how the Midianites, Amelekites and the people of the east” set up tents in opposition to the offspring of “Israel” and spoiled and ruined the crops of their grounds.
The verse continues, “… till you come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.” The writer added the words, “till you come unto Gaza” which means “until such time that you, the Midianites, Amelekites and the people of the east, arrive and enter into Gaza or Azzah whose name means ‘the strong’ and was another name for 'Gaza', a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean”, “and left no sustenance” or “and allowed to remain not any preservation of life, live flesh or victuals” “for Israel” which means “on behalf of Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “neither sheep” or “no and not in any way small cattle such as sheep”, “nor ox” which means “no and not in any way bulls, head of cattle, cows or oxen” “nor ass” or “no and not in any manner male donkeys”. The writer shared how “the Midianites, Amelekites and the people of the east” did not leave anything to suspend the lives of “Israel” included their “sheep, cattle and donkeys”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the people of “Israel” lost their crops and livestock to “the Midianites, Amelekites and the people of the east”. This was a direct result of the people of “Israel” defying God and His ways. God did not want it to be this way, but because they abandoned God and violated His ways, they suffered great loss. God knew this, and He was to soon send a rescuer their way. He knows our conditions as well, and because we have sin in our lives, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and give us the ability to remain in fellowship with Him to avoid massive suffering and loss because we have abandoned Him and His ways. (See John 3:16:16:13; Acts 1:8; Philippians 3:8)
Next time we learn how, “they came up with their cattle and their tents”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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