This post is for the current series on the theme "Enough!"
People of every era long for peace. Pure reason seems to demand that all sides simply lay down arms and declare, "Enough war!"
The Israelites of 3,400 years ago surely reached that point. Once they crossed into the Promised Land and defeated the enemies who harassed and opposed them, they had surely wearied of war and saw no reason to keep fighting against the people willing to make peace with them.
"I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, '…you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land ….' But you have not obeyed My voice. Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be bait on a hook to you.' "
~ Judges 2:1-3
Judges is one of the most difficult portions of Scripture to understand. Why did God command such annihilation? If it was reasonable then, why is it unreasonable now?
To chronicle the atrocities and evil of an ancient pagan people who God called wicked could just as easily describe the world's current state of affairs. Too little distinction would be made in an effort to understand their destruction and our continued existence.
But if one looks at Old Testament events as physical pictures which depict spiritual realities of the New Testament, then the nations to be destroyed in the era of Judges may be seen as a picture of the sins a Christian is told to attack without mercy; the conflicts from which the Israelites obtained no rest may be seen as the conflict we are to expect in a world hostile to Jesus Christ.
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."
~ Matthew 10:34 (NKJV)
Yes, we grow weary of spiritual warfare. Yes, we long to live in peace.
But.
The Israelites paid a high price for laying down arms before the Lord Himself declared "Enough War!" Willingness to make peace with evil people became peace with evil itself. However weary of warfare they may have become, it was not their place to decide when enough was enough.
Shall we choose to make peace with evil because we grow weary of fighting sin?
Lord God Almighty, You alone own the right to say when enough is enough. Please give us the encouragement and perseverance to remain faithful as spiritual warriors until that Day in the near future when You bring us true peace.
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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
No doubt about it, it is a fight to the end! We are in a war, but when we finally reach those shores, how great our joy will be when we realize the fighting is all a distant memory. I too have some difficulty at times when I read where a whole people, including children were killed, but I know my God and He is merciful and true. I believe Scripture teaches that these people were warned again and again with plenty of time to repent. Thank you as always for the good Scripture teaching!
ReplyDeleteLori, I'm grateful for your affirmation. Please forgive the long delay in a reply. I'm still in recovery mode from some of my own intense spiritual warfare. Yes, the joy of That Day will obliterate all we endure now.
DeleteAppreciate this.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you, Denise.
DeleteIt must be His definition of peace that moves us and guides us. Until His peace reigns... Yes, we grow weary, but He sustains and as we wait on Him, our strength is renewed. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteJason, waiting on the Lord is indeed cause for having our strength renewed by Him. I appreciate you putting it in this context. Thank you for being here.
DeleteI hope you'll forgive such a long delay to reply. I'm working on cooperation with the Lord to renew strength right now. It's DEFINITELY been a waiting process!