LORD Fights for Them

 

LORD Fights for Them

Exodus 14: ²⁴ Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. ²⁵ And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

 

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After Moses held up his rod, GOD parted the Red Sea. The children of Israel crossed on dry ground. The Egyptians tried to use the same path that GOD was using to protect HIS people. They pursued inside the parted sea only to find that GOD took their wheels off their chariots. They got scared.

 

My Observations:

• GOD saw the evil of the Egyptians.
• GOD fought the Egyptians in a way that was very calculated.
• The Egyptians recognized that it was GOD who was fighting against them.

 

Doing anything evil against the children of GOD was unacceptable to HIM. The pursuit to pull the children of Israel back into slavery was seen by GOD and HE used their positioning against them. HE allowed them to get close enough to the children of Israel before HE took their chariot wheels off.

 

GOD gave the children of Israel enough of a head start that they could cross the Red Sea in safety. But the Egyptians had troubles and decided to flee from their pursuit. They were in the middle of the Sea with broken chariots. They may have remembered the plagues and felt that it was no longer worth trying to fight against the children of Israel. GOD was setting them up for HIS final blow.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about what HE did to the chariots?
• Have you ever been pursued by an enemy or the Enemy?
• Can you rest assured knowing that GOD is fighting the battle you think you need to fight?

Insulting Words

Insulting Words

Jude 1: ⁸ In the same way also, these people have visions which make them sin against their own bodies; they despise God's authority and insult the glorious beings above. ⁹ Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 

 

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Learning how to curse took me some time. I got laughed at for using curse words incorrectly. But after a while I was able to string together a tapestry of foul language that would make people laugh. I tried out my new language on various people, thinking I was bringing laughter. Little did I know, I was saying hurtful words towards them that I could never take back.

 

• I thought insults were funny.
• I thought insults were innocent.
• I thought I could insult evil things, because it is evil, right? Wrong!

 

Jude gives an account of a battle that is provided by the HOLY SPIRIT. He provided only one part of the argument by quoting the chief angel Michael when he said “The LORD rebuke you” referring to Satan. Jude used this battle as an example of how people had focused on sensuality and used their words to insult “the glorious beings above” meaning the spiritual realm.

 

My Observations:

• Satan wanted to become GOD but was condemned and thrown out of heaven with his fate sealed up in a scroll.
• Only a sinless human could open the scroll, and that person was JESUS.
• Moses and Elijah appeared with JESUS and are likely the people who pour out GOD’s predicted wrath.

 

Getting back to insults, they should never be used. Michael refused to match wits with Satan, but left it up to JESUS. I mean, when I feel my back is in a corner, I should not come out swinging with insults. I need to give the fight to GOD.

 

I am no match for a spiritual battle. BUT GOD is. HE has a spiritual army that cannot be defeated. Satan tried and failed. GOD protects you and me in ways we don’t know or understand. I am so glad GOD cares for me.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer give such a strong warning about insulting spiritual beings?
• Have you ever made fun of the Devil or angels or GOD?
• Will you consider reducing insulting words and increasing praise for JESUS who saved you from GOD’s just and mighty wrath today?

Fighting the Struggle

Hosea 12: ³ In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
    as a man he struggled with God.
⁴ He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
    he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
    and talked with him there—
⁵ the Lord God Almighty,
    the Lord is his name!
⁶ But you must return to your God;
    maintain love and justice,
    and wait for your God always.

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“Why do I have to know who signed some document hundreds of years ago?” was my question as I struggled with the subject. I gave up on History. “Why do I have to pull myself up only to drop and do it again?” was my question as I struggled to do pullups in gym. I gave up on being strong. “Why do I have to read the Bible and go to church?” was my question as I struggled to balance time. I stepped away from GOD.

• In the past when something was a struggle I would give up.
• In the past when something was difficult I would cave in.
• In the past when something was hard to overcome I would let it get the best of me and quit.

It seemed like even following GOD was too difficult. I mean I tried to be perfect and found I could not, so I walked away. BUT GOD wanted me to see HIM differently.

• GOD wanted me to return to HIM so HE could open my eyes.
• GOD wanted me to maintain love and justice so HE could use the talents HE placed in me.
• GOD wanted me to wait on HIM so I could see the marvelous work HE had in store for me.

When I returned to GOD I found I had more time for HIM than I thought. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize I need HIM daily. I went back to attempting doing a pullup. I could only do one at first then two then many. I started to read the history of GOD’s people gaining understanding of where humans made mistakes. GOD was patient enough to take my struggles and turn them into victories!

• What are you struggling with?
• Do you find yourself on your own?
• Can you stop fighting GOD and turn your face to HIM?
• Will you allow HIM to help you with your battle today by focusing on HIM rather than the struggle?

You Can Do It!

Psalm:110 ¹ The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

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As I said my first “bad word” I looked around to see if anyone heard me. Some people giggled others still did not notice me. I could curse! As I looked at the opposite sex as objects, people welcomed me in their conversations. I could lust! As I reached in someone else’s bank and removed a few coins to get ice cream I made my escape and came into the house with a brand new Popsicle. My parents noticed and I got torn apart for that. Okay, I couldn’t steal.

• Sometimes I think I can get away with sin and sometimes I think I will feel consequences.
• Sometimes I think GOD is mad at me because I have sinned.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished by GOD because I was born with a sin nature.

Name the sin and I have probably done it or thought about it. Sometimes it seems like sin is winning and I am losing. I mean can’t I just walk the earth sinless the rest of my life? Why won’t GOD just give me the ability to become a superhero, fighting sin and remaining pure? GOD had another thought.

• GOD said to me “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
• GOD said to me “Sin is your enemy and it has condemned you to death, so I will die in your place.”
• GOD said to me “It is finished, I have forgiven you of all your sin, no human can pluck you out of MY hand.”

When I looked around, all of my enemies were defeated. Sometimes they don’t seem that way, but they really are. GOD said “MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness.” Sin weakens me and every human except one, namely JESUS. HIS death, burial and resurrection gives me power over my enemies that are already defeated!

• Do you feel discouraged?
• Do you feel defeated?
• Can you get back up and see that the LORD is good?
• Will you stop focusing on yourself for a minute and know that GOD has defeated your enemies?

Lifting Up My Head!

Psalm 24: ⁵ They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face, God of Jacob.

⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰ Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

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Phone calls became a dread to me. I picked up the third call this particular day and it was my insurance company. “You have to get a higher priced insurance because of your ticket history” they said. This was after the call I received from the credit card company and the auto mechanic who just finished working on my jalopy of a car. Both were asking for their money and I had none. Where is GOD during these times?

• Sometimes it seems like trouble comes in waves.
• Sometimes it seems like problems hit when I am weakest.
• Sometimes it seems like I have more questions than answers.

I couldn’t understand why I was going through this circumstance at the time. I was in a mess and I couldn’t see beyond the day. BUT GOD saw my future.

• GOD owns everything on Earth and all around it, so HE knows what I need.
• GOD raises me up in HIS time with HIS method.
• GOD fights my battles even when it seems like I am outnumbered.

GOD tells me to “Lift up my head and stop acting defeated!” The question I had to ask myself is, “What would I be doing if I had all the money I needed at my disposal?” The answer came to me with a statement, “Live for today and let GOD have tomorrow.” I focused my attention on that day and little by little I climbed out of the mountain of debt. I could answer the phone with confidence.

• Are you in a landslide of trouble?
• Do you think you have problems on all sides?
• Can you focus your attention on what GOD will have you do “this” day?
• Will you stop pouting about what you don’t have and focus on what GOD wants for you today?

A Prayer for the Powerless

2 Chronicles 14: ¹¹ Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

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Surrounded on all sides again, GOD’s people felt scared, worried and full of fear. There seemed to be no way out. BUT GOD fought the battle again.

HE wants full reliance on HIM. Mere mortals will not prevail against GOD’s wonderful plan for me.