BigPicture

We have a unique prophetic role to play in spiritual warfare. Nations and people are hanging in the balance, but often we can't see it, because the cares of this world are consuming our time and attention. In speaking to Jeremiah after He touched Jeremiah's mouth, the LORD said, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jer. 1:9-10). It is true that this is Jeremiah's call to the office of prophet, but we are all called to be prophetic people. In fact, we are told by Paul to covet to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:39)). The root meaning of the word "prophesy" in Greek includes "the Messiah; of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight plead the cause of God and urge salvation of men." Rev. 19:10 says, "...brethren that have the testimony of Jesus...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." In another place it says, "And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren who is cast down) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:10-11). God uses His people to accomplish spiritual warfare against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). We can learn more about this spiritual warfare through this Sabbath's assigned readings from the Torah and the haftarah. The title of the Sabbath portion for this week is B'shallach, meaning "When he let go". Sometimes we view Pharaoh's finally agreeing to let God's people go from slavery to serve Him, and the later destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea as the end of the story, the victory won. However, "when he (Pharaoh) let go" is just the beginning of the warfare. A Jewish commentary on this portion of Sabbath reading contends that God fought powers of Egypt both on high and below; not just the natural power of Pharaoh and his army, but the spiritual powers behind them. Isaiah 19:1-3 reveals the spiritual battle against Egypt, including the statement, "The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst...". The word "Egypt" in Hebrew, Mitsrayim, involves much more than a physical nation. The root meanings of the word include: narrow straits, siege, entrenched, limit, distress, confine, bind, beset, show hostility, be an adversary. In the final encounter with the Egyptians at the Red Sea, God leads the Israelites to a position opposite Ba'al Zephon(Ex. 14:2). Ba'al Zephon is the name of Egypt's god of wealth. It also means lord of the north, darkness, destroyer, laid up or concealed, treasure. At the Red Sea, God changed phases of matter, liquid to solid, and solid again to liquid (Ex. 14:22, 26, Ps. 78:13), in order to deliver and then to destroy. After the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, Moses and the people celebrated exultantly through an inspired song (Ex. 15). It is called "Song by the Sea". The Song declares: "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God and I will praise Him...The LORD is a man of war (root: make war, devour, to eat, to feed on); The LORD is His name..." In v. 9 of the Song, the enemy makes threats against God's people that begin with the phrase "I will..." (see Isa. 14:13-14) saying: "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil...I will draw my sword." The Song states that because of what has been accomplished by the LORD in this warfare against Egypt, four other nations will be affected: Philistia/Palestina, Edom, Moab, Canaan (v. 14-15). These four names are connected in meaning with rolling in the ashes in mourning, covetousness and murderous threats, immorality, merchandising/trafficking/humiliation. The Song concludes: Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established." (v. 16-17). The accomplishment of the "entering in" of God's people has a direct impact on the outcome for these nations mentioned, and the spiritual strongholds they represent. This is the role we, His people, play in this warfare as we enter into the realm of the throne of God. In the very next chapter of the Sabbath readings (Ex. 16), however, it is one month later, and the people of Israel were in the wilderness of Sin (meaning thorn, clay). The Israelites began to complain against Moses, because they were not happy with their lack of comforts and food. They began idealizing their conditions back in Egypt. They wanted meat, and they wanted bread. Twice it is pointed out that their complaints were not really against Moses, but against God (v. 7-8). The people were in a "thorny" place, and they were immediately affected by their circumstances and conditions. They certainly did not see "the big picture". Their attitude angered God, but not only did God miraculously provide the meat and bread that the Israelites craved, but He provided it in such a way as to allow them to still keep His rest with Him on the Sabbath (Ex. 16:22-23). This would not be the last time in the Exodus account, however, that God's people failed to trust Him. What things are our hearts craving that we think we lack, things we think we need but don't have, that cause us to feel dissatisfied, even resentful? How does this craving and wanting affect the spiritual warfare going on around us? In contrast, Paul pleaded with God concerning the thorn in his flesh (see "clay" in connection with the meaning of the wilderness of Sin) that had been given to him. Paul called that thorn "a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." God answered Paul that His grace was sufficient (arkeo-to be possessed of unfailing strength, to defend, to ward off, raising a barrier, to be satisfied, to be content; Root: to raise up, to lift up) for Paul, "for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul noted tht he will be happy to accept his infirmities, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Paul's contentment and satisfaction because of his trust in the power of Christ in him, even in the pain of the thorn in his flesh, is a powerful spiritual weapon in God's hands. This is a great revelation in contrast to the complaints and dissatisfaction of God's people in the wilderness, those complaints still often heard in the mouths of His people today. The Book of Hebrews said of Moses: "By faith Moses....esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt..." (Heb. 11:24-27). Hebrews also says: "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb.12:1-2). Jesus was not just inconvenienced by thorns, but He wore thorns, and did so without complaint, because He saw the "big picture", the spiritual victory being accomplished. Psalm 78, another reading for this Sabbath, tells us that the experiences and attitudes of the Israelites were recorded "That the generation to come might know...that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God...and may not be like their fathers...that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God." (v. 5-8). Of that generation in the wilderness, the psalm says, "...they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God; they said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" (v. 18-19). The psalm says that God had to slay His people before they returned and sought for Him (v. 34). It is a very sad statement about a people who were easily overturned and beset by their own sin, doubt and desires. As we saw above, it only took a month for Israel to forget the miraculous deliverance of God. I think that sometimes it only takes a day, or even an hour to forget. The big picture of God's warfare plan is so important, that spiritual enemies, and even our own flesh do everything possible to knock the people of God off of their prophetic track. If we are to get through some of these severe tests and trials, and the challenges being faced today, we will have to keep "the big picture" in mind. May we remain the prophetic people that God has called us to be in warfare in Christ, undeterred by the challenges and difficulties in front of us. Our Father uses us in warfare. If you would like to be joined to Christ and His victory over all things, you can pray: "Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You knowing that You are my strength and my salvation. I believe that You died for me, and rose from the dead, conquering the grave for Me. I place my trust in You, that you will never leave me nor forsake me. You have forgiven me when I have failed, when I have sinned. Your Holy Spirit fills me and inspires me to sing a song of Your greatness and victory over all my enemies. Teach me to be satisfied, for Your strength overcomes my weaknesses. I give You thanks. Amen."