Scripture
Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them. So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it. So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD" (Judges 6:1-6).
Observation
So Israel is still subject to falling away from the Lord in times of peace, when things are going good. This happened during the 40 years of peace that followed God's latest deliverance from their enemies under the leadership of a great woman of God named Deborah. But it's during the times of peace, the good times, when Israel seems to have the most problems. That's very interesting, isn't it? When they aren't faced with impossible situations, overwhelming enemies; when they aren't in desperate need for God,…they tend to forget about Him, and focus more on themselves and what seems good to them, and what they want to do. And that's exactly when they become vulnerable to the temptations of the real enemy, Satan, to turn from following the Lord and to do what is evil in His sight, which results in Him pulling back His hand of blessing, provision, and protection from them. Then the people get to bear the fruit of their very unwise decision, and the enemy, in this case, the Midianites, comes in and takes away all their livestock, their possessions, their crops, everything the Israelites had, even to the point when the Israelites wound up abandoning their homes and living in caves in the hills like animals! It says that "Israel was brought very low because of Midian," and that's low!
Application
What Midian did to Israel got me to thinking about John 10:10, in which Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal, and to kill and to destroy." This is the mission, strategy and work of the enemy of our souls. It's his identifying mark that clearly shows where he is and where he's been. But the thing that we have to realize, just like Israel needed to realize, is that the enemy had no entrance, no access and no place among them, until they made the choice to turn away from following God and do what is evil in God's sight. It was their sin that opened the door of access to the enemy who gladly came in to steal, kill and destroy. We also need to remember that it was during the times of peace, when things were good, that Israel let down her guard and turned her attention to things not of God.
This is important, because this is how the enemy gains access into our lives, to steal, kill and destroy in us, and then through us, to our families and loved ones. It's often through our wrong, silly, selfish choices when things are going good and we aren't desperate for God. We open the door to the enemy, we step out of the place of God's blessing, protection and provision; and we are brought very low!
Yes, I've been there. And the answer to this problem is so obvious! I can't allow myself to stray from the presence of God no matter how great things are going! I can't allow myself to slip from my spiritual disciplines of seeking Him in daily devotions, of worshipping Him passionately, of practicing His presence, being aware of Him presence moment by moment, of quickly confessing my sins as they happen, of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and of being diligent to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love the people God brings into my life.
This is important, because this is how the enemy gains access into our lives, to steal, kill and destroy in us, and then through us, to our families and loved ones. It's often through our wrong, silly, selfish choices when things are going good and we aren't desperate for God. We open the door to the enemy, we step out of the place of God's blessing, protection and provision; and we are brought very low!
Yes, I've been there. And the answer to this problem is so obvious! I can't allow myself to stray from the presence of God no matter how great things are going! I can't allow myself to slip from my spiritual disciplines of seeking Him in daily devotions, of worshipping Him passionately, of practicing His presence, being aware of Him presence moment by moment, of quickly confessing my sins as they happen, of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and of being diligent to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love the people God brings into my life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have always been there through the ages to teach and guide Your people in the ways of peace, life and abundance! Please forgive us, forgive me, for the times I've neglected to follow Your instructions and have wound up paying dearly for it.
Lord, the great news is that You are so mighty against the enemy, as You demonstrated with Gideon and the 300, and how you fought for them and gave them victory over an innumerable foe! The enemy is not the problem. It's me, and when I cease to focus on and follow You moment by moment. Help me to do that in the good times as well as the bad. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
Lord, the great news is that You are so mighty against the enemy, as You demonstrated with Gideon and the 300, and how you fought for them and gave them victory over an innumerable foe! The enemy is not the problem. It's me, and when I cease to focus on and follow You moment by moment. Help me to do that in the good times as well as the bad. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
