So Israel was told by God to drive out the pagan tribes upon entering the Promised Land.
Why? To prevent the corruption of theology and morality that would surely follow if they didn’t.
Some Israelite tribes did drive out some of the pagan tribes inn their appointed regions during the decade or so of conquest expeditions beginning with Jericho.
But some tribes didn’t.
The Book of Judges cites the tribe of Judah’s failure as attributable to the enemy’s chariots, when really it appears to be lack of faithful determination.
Pharoah had chariots. Many of them. And he was determined to use them as his key weapons for forcing the fleeing Hebrews back into Egyptian slavery.
The problem for Pharoah was that the chariots didn’t float and were destroyed by the collapsing walls of the the temporary corridor through the Red Sea.
God was bigger and “badder” than the chariots.
Judah forgot that and looked at the threat, not at history.
We do the same sometimes.
We see threats and feel fears.
We forget about the fact that chariots don’t float and that God is bigger than our biggest enemy.
We forget that God called us to overcome the enemy territory in our moral lives, our ethics lives, our financial lives, our prideful, control-freak-of-other-people lives.
Big victories don’t come by defeating weak enemies who flee when we say “Boo!” in Jesus’ name.
Those kinds of victories involve pitting steely faith against iron chariots of “stumbling block” sins and sometimes-oppressive peer pressure and physical/financial limitations that leave us feeling vulnerable.
The same God that emptied the tomb despite all that forces and wishes of Satan, his demons and his co-conspirators on earth is the God who is bigger than the chariots in your life and mine.
Whatever territory in your lifestyle that an unsanctified enemy is dug in, don’t fear the rattling chariot as you begin to attack it with the conviction of transformation.
Press in to God with prayer and study and association with fellow spiritual warriors and then press forward in faith that God will shield you from destruction as you carve out a larger sanctified zone in your life.
Remember, chariots don’t float when overwhelmed with a flood of Living Water.
As always, I love you
Martin
Thank you for reminding me that the enemies’ chariots do not float, and our Lord’s living water has won it all. Please pray for me as I am going through a lot of testing of the Truth. Please ask our faithful Father to keep me safe, and give me courage,and to extend my boundary. Give me joy and hope and live the example of a warrior of the Good New.
Lorene.
Lorene,
Thank you for the note. I appreciate your sharing with me some of what you face in your walk of faith. I am grateful that the Lord has you in a position to influence others for His sake. I pray that the joy He has placed into your heart will permeate into the lives of people around you. Have you shared this request with believers close to you?
Martin Drummond
Yes, I have. The more the merrier. Thanks.
Lorene.