Day 66: The Way Of The Warrior

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Mic. 5:2).  Recently, we have been exploring the question why did the Lord choose this insignificant little town to have the ruler of the Universe born there?

Recent devotionals we discovered that there was great cosmic warfare in the heavenly realms that spilled into earthly places.  The Lord took control of one small sliver of land – Israel as his domain, the rest was divided:  When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. (Deut. 32:8).  Then: But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. (Deut. 32:9).

Israel was to be without demonic influence.  Would Satan just sit and abide borders?  He might concoct a plan to surreptitiously make inroads to the Lord’s territory. Satan is audacious, hoping to thwart God’s design’s and purposes.  He doesn’t wait long to launch a secret maneuver into the Promised Land.  Way back in Genesis an invasion was planned.

God’s plan to bless all of mankind, goes through a specific people group – Abraham, and sons.  His son Isaac, had two sons, Jacob and Esau, who were to continue with the family line.  Esau, disdained his calling, while Jacob, a sneaky conniver reluctantly carried the family line. Jacob becomes our focus of interest.  He married Rachel, whose father, Laban was a cheating liar. So, a sneaky conniver, and a cheating liar are father-in-law and son-in-law.  Not an auspicious beginning, but God can make good come out of bad people.

Laban was not a believer in the Lord, but Jacob’s simple trust in God, brought favor and blessing to Laban.  But all good things come to an end. Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” (Gen. 31:3). Jacob tells his two wives – Rachel and Leah, their heading to Canaan.  Laban’s daughters don’t like their Daddy and are ready to leave.  But Rachel learned her Daddy’s tricks and: Rachel stole her father’s household gods. (Gen. 31:19).  Did bells and whistles go off for you in that phrase?

The word for ‘gods’ is teraphim, which are demonic spirit items that are used for divination, for discerning, for providing, for healing.  They are not Jehovah energized, they are spiritual realm items that the demons use.  Rachel may have stolen these for monetary value, or for her own protection on her way to Canaan – Jehovah’s territory.  Are you getting bad vibes about this?  You should.

Well, back home Laban finds out that his son-in-law Jacob had left, taking his wives, Laban’s daughters with him.  Laban was not happy.  He was good at cheating and stealing but didn’t like it when he was duped.  Laban goes on the hunt, but the Lord reveals to Laban, warning him: But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Gen. 31:24).  The Lord in no uncertain terms, says don’t even talk bad to Jacob. Watch your step!

Laban catches up to Jacob and his daughters, scolding them, then says something peculiar: why did you steal my gods?” (Gen. 31:30).  Jehovah had just communicated to Laban, yet his teraphim were more important, than Jehovah!  Strange, how people ignore God.

Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen them (31:32) and he told Laban search for them if he wanted.  Laban searched all the tents.  When he came to Rachel’s tent she sat on the saddle they were hidden, saying she could not get up, because she had her period [lie]. Laban taught her well (31:35). Laban was inches away from these ‘gods’ he depended on for revelation, and they did not even get a peep out to him.  He never found them, they could not tell him – anything.  Where were they?  In God’s country – Canaan, Gilead (31:25).

Let’s not be naïve, Satan eventually made all kinds of inroads into Canaan before and after this episode.  But the Lord exerted his authority and said ‘no’ at this time.  It’s His land.

A few chapters later these teraphim are mentioned again.  The people of God keep acquiring things that are not redemptive items (sounds modern).  So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. (Gen. 35:2). Satan is like a pebble in your shoe. Irritating!  So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. (Gen. 35:4).

What happens when demonic influence was out of their life? a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. (Gen. 35:5).  That was simple.  The Lord certainly can manage the supernatural realm – let Him. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7).

Listen, there’s all kinds of spiritual warfare going on, not only in Biblical history, but throughout human history, and in our present day.  It certainly will be in the future in dynamic and open ways.  But whether it’s hidden, or open do not be fearful.  Satan is on the losing team.  Just note that Satan is like a weak, timid pro-wrestler – watch.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. (Rev. 20:1).  This angel has his hands full.  Guess what? And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, (Rev. 20:2).  The unnamed angel is throwing Satan around like a rag doll.  He seizes Satan – this is like the Incredible Hulk grabbing me.  Then this angel ties Satan up! You feeling sorry for him?  Then: and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him (Rev. 20:3).  The unnamed angel just chucks him like a football into the bottomless pit, and puts a cover over him, he can’t move.  He put a whooping on Satan, in no uncertain terms.

That angel is on our side.  Don’t ever be fearful, of Satan.  Jesus tells who to be fearful of: But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Lk. 12:5).  Fear a Holy God.  But when you trust Him you’ll never have to fear anything else – because He’s safe. God is fearsome and safe!

We’re getting close to Bethlehem.  Stay with us and we’ll see why the Father had his son born there.  It’s a safe harbor in a storm.

By Nathan Werner