Bibledoorajar: "Until the victory is won"

Last week we spoke of the tribe of Dan. They could not get what God said they needed so they took what they could find. But Israel prophesied that Gad would do well in attaining the victory over the Canaanites. They would be able to move about in the land unharmed and repeatedly protect the other tribes from their enemies. They were indeed a great asset to the fledgling kingdom when the "troops came."

     Merida: "I want my freedom."
     Queen Elinor: But are you brave enough to fight for it?"

                                                 From the movie, Brave

Gad was the son of Zilpah, the maid servant of Leah and was born before the children of Jacob's beloved Rachel. He would have known how much Israel loved Joseph and Benjamin and it must have been heartening to him when his father cemented his brave nature that he would carry into the future. Can't you just see Gad when he learned he was going to be brave enough lead his people against the onslaught of troops for the sake of freedom? The apostle Paul told his son in the faith,Timothy, the same thing and said that he had not been given a spirit of fear but of great might.

     "....I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you so that by following them you may fight the good fight holding on to the faith and a good conscience."
                                                                                                     1 Timothy 1: 18ff

This is the bravery challenge for us all. We have been given the strength through the work of the Holy Spirit, but we have to be willing to fight the good fight. Imagine taking the victory and then moving about the kingdom saving others from the enemy. Now, can we make our imagination real?

Bibledoorajar Looks at Discerning God's Will About People

     For Christians, each of us has to decide which people (kingdoms) to honor. When Saul was leading the Jews in the battle for God's will among people, he was called upon to distinguish among the peoples. Amidst the battle against the Amalekites (Agagites), Saul paused to make sure he and the Jews did no harm to the Kenites who were descendants of Jethro who so aided Moses as he led the children of Israel from Egypt. This was a noble and absolutely right thing to do. However, Saul did not show the same wisdom when he captured Agag. God's will was that he be completely annihilated because of the degree of his evil toward the purposes of God. I think Saul's problem was that he did not know his God intimately enough to absolutely do his will on all occasions. "Know the king intimately and enjoy Him forever---Ps. 16:11." Saul knew his God but did not always want to pursue mutual enjoyment with Him. Consequently, he made a terrible mistake that not only interrupted his relationship with God, but placed God's people in continuing peril.
     Just as Esther was seeking the king with all her heart, with all her mind and with all her soul knowing that he was sovereign and in control, so Mordecai was pursuing God. Mordecai incensed Haman because he refused to worship anyone or thing above God. We must realize that there are just some  people like Haman who are going to be incensed about our devotion to the will of God. It is of more interest to them that we worship differently. But, faith in God often calls for sacrifice. Honor of some peoples and their ways simply cannot take place. Christians are called to give honor to whom honor is due. This is a key component to victory.
     So evil were the Amalekites, that God had sworn perpetual war with them. Now, everyone was bowing down to Haman except Mordecai. This infuriated Haman. When "friends" encouraged Mordecai to follow through and bow down, Mordecai proclaimed that he was a Jew and as a Jew he could not dishonor his God in that way. Be careful what you tell so called "friends" because, as we will see in our story, the "friends" went straight to Haman with the news that Mordecai was a Jew. Everyone was watching to see who would be victorious in the battle, Mordecai or Haman. But here's some of the difference.

Mordecai                                        Haman

resolved and brave                    prideful and evil

Our heavenly Mordecai was resolved and brave that day that Satan came to Him and tempted Him. He withstood the prideful evil Satan by proclaiming the truth of God's word. God help us to be so resolved and brave when our enemies tempt us.