“The LORD is a Warrior; the LORD is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red sea.” Exodus 15:3-4 (NIV)
“And having spoiled Principalities and Powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15 (KJV)
Please oblige and indulge me as I have a very much overdue blast; this is my favorite character and attribute of God Almighty. Nothing gives me more joy, pleasure and confidence than knowing that the ‘ONE’ I trust with everything is ’All Mighty and All Capable’. The Hebrew name for the God, Who is a ‘Man of war’ is ”JEHOVAH SABAOTH”: The Lord of Host. ‘The Captain and Commander to the Angelic hosts and to the Armies of God’. The Victor of every war we will ever need to fight for our freedom and His glory. Put on your armour, helmet, shield, bullet-proof vest or whatever it is that you use for protection; because it is about to get very serious now…
We know and even sing about the mercies of the Lord; indeed He is immeasurably merciful. His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. We know that without the love, forgiveness and the mercy of the Lord, we are ‘toast’ for the enemy (so to speak) and we can do absolutely nothing about being that vulnerable. Even further, God is so long-suffering and enduring with us that as incredible and encouraging as that is, man would use that as an excuse to continue in sin and wickedness. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11 (KJV) God’s love for humanity is boundless and limitless; but there comes a time when ‘His (One and Only) Holiness’ will have to enforce His already written laws and ways.
In ‘Psalm 68′, the Psalmist must have seen and felt the effects of the cumulation of wickedness, because he cries out to God to take care of business. “Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him, flee before Him.” Psalm 68:1 He (the Psalmist) observed the incessant rejection and ‘nose thumping’ at an All powerful and Holy God. It appeared that God was stalling; as the wicked rampantly increased, and as they prospered and reigned. What is/was man? That God Almighty gave him and still gives him the time of day; per-adventure he might decide to repent. Even the devil who has his share of alloted power and position knows that as a created being, he is running out of time and subsequently resources.
God’s holy cry of war is always an indication, that things are getting ready to be set right; as it pleases God. When the Lion of Judah roars, mountains tremble and strong-holds dis-connect. In the book of Exodus, when God was getting ready to free His people Israel, He first introduced Himself to the vessel He would use:- Moses. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14 (KJV) After that reassuring introduction, God then sent Moses to tell Pharoah to let God’s people go; it was that simple. But Pharoah having done things his own way for so long and reigned as his own God all the while seemingly getting away with it; took the command as an invitation for a power play and tussle; the absolute and cantankerous nerve of him! After Moses got tired of Pharoah’s disobedience, stubbornness and rebellion, God said something we do well to note: ”And the Lord said unto Moses, when thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou doest all those wonders before Pharoah, which I have put in thy hand: but I will harden his heart that he shall not let the people go.” Exodus 4:21 (KJV). Wow! did you catch that? God was ready for war and there was going to be a war; so much so that even Pharoah was a pun in the hand of God. Pharoah was supposed to drag the whole episode until God had delivered the last plague upon Egypt. God was not only ready to fight but He would show off just a little bit. I should have titled this: ‘God is a Show-off ‘with all reverence. He reserves the right to; besides Him there is absolutely no other.
Though many rage and pound their chest; the scripture makes it clear that : “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 Also in the book of Colossians, the Sovereignty of the ‘All encompassing God-head is clearly stated in chapter one (1) and verse sixteen (16): “For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: He created/made it all; and has absolute authority to it all. Feels good to know that the one that defends, justifies and protects us is not caught up in a frenzy in heaven; wondering what He would do next, as he chews on His finger nails. Or better still; picture God in heaven going: “… I never saw it coming or they took me by surprise…” There was never any contest, never will be; because there is none greater than Him.
However, certain things God has decided will be acquired by conquest, through a period of time, in an ultimate and inevitable ‘showdown’. So that every knee might be given a chance to bow in reverence to the conquering King, and every tongue confess that He alone is God and Worthy. God as the ‘Commander of the Angelic Host’, has battle strategies that has not entered into the heart of men and never will, unless God Himself reveals it. And there is one enemy; that God has promised those that trust and wait on Him: He will not fail to destroy and completely eradicate.
We will find out what enemy and why in the next installment (Part Two). Excuse me while I go wipe the sweat of my ‘Sword’.
