Do you ever read something in the Bible that seems unreasonable?
"And levy a tribute for the LORD on the men of war who went out to battle …"
~ Numbers 31:28 (NKJV)
My first impression of this directive was that it seems a little unfair to ask the guys who went to war to pay a tribute. It seems that the people who rested at home and still benefitted from the war should be the ones to pay the tribute.
What's more, God's law also required that soldiers returning from battle weren't allowed to immediately reunite with loved ones, but were first banished for a week as unclean for their contact with blood and death (Numbers 31:19).
The warriors evidently had no problem with all this. They were happy to be alive. They willingly paid the atonement price for doing their duty:
"Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing. Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD … to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
~ Numbers 31:49-50 (NKJV)
Do we serve with as much grace in spiritual warfare?
Do we perceive the numerous conflicts we face each day as skirmishes in which we may prove that evil is overcome only with good? Will we allow ourselves to be humbled so that God may be exalted? Or do we think ourselves creatures designed for comfort and rest, who should be neither conscripted for war nor asked to pay its cost?
Our comfort comes not in the avoidance of conflict, but in approval from the Lord in how we meet inevitable conflict.
"Nothing is work unless you'd rather be doing something else."
~ George Halas
Our rest is found in embracing the Lord's will as our own.
Lord, make us worthy warriors. Allow us to see privilege in fighting for You. Please, Lord, enable us to enter Your will and Your rest.
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For more on this thought, see "Anatomy of an Ephiphany."
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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Amen sis.
ReplyDeleteLove you, pretty lil bear. ♥
DeleteWow! I must have skimmed right over those words, previously...or at least haven't sat and pondered them.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly puts things in perspective, in terms of heart attitude, doesn't it?
Rather than thinking in terms of the ox being allowed to eat of the grain it treads, maybe we should think more in terms of giving a sacrifice of thanks for God's protection in battle.
Thanks for sharing, Anne!
Joe, I guess we know that spiritual warfare is always a given. But we never expect the heat of battle to grow quite so hot.
DeleteAnd yes, I'm continually surprised by words I've missed on the first several reads. AMAZING how alive the Word of God is!
In some incredible spiritual warfare right now and this is great encouragement. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteJason, when the fight grows fierce, STAY CLOSE TO THE WORD. Read it, read it, read it.
DeleteI'm asking the Lord to give you the extra measure of grace needed right now. I belive in you. I believe in Him.