At times, being in the kingdom of God can feel like opposite day, every day. God seems to be doing things completely back to front and in the wrong order.
You thought surely he’d do ABC but instead he’s gone for XYZ – or rather, a total muddle of QGTM.
This, I find, is when my ‘old self’ starts to kick in again. I know that everyone in Christ is a new creation. I know that I have ‘crucified my old self with Christ’. And yet, the worries of life start to creep in and encouraging the ‘new self’ becomes a lot harder.
It’s times like these, when my back is against the wall, that I need to see with eyes of faith, like the prophet, AKA man of God, Elisha did:
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Situations can be deceiving.
We can easily consider ourselves outnumbered, or on the flip side, appear to be an easy target. This is when we need to realise not who we are, but whose we are and which side we’re on.
God’s.
Just as the king of Israel could not outwit the King of Aram, neither can we effectively strategise our way out of our problems.
But God can.
We are likely to give up – well, speak for myself – but God graciously shows us what we can’t easily see.
It was the same for the apostle, Paul. In many places, including whilst in Corinth, he experienced strong opposition to his gospel proclamation. But God encouraged him otherwise:
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth
“I have many people in this city.”
“Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Words that tell us to be encouraged.
Words that tell us the true nature of things.
Words that tell us not to be afraid.
My sinful nature is very liable to fear. I think most people lean this way. When I am giving way to fear, I need to remind myself to starve my sinful nature.
And choose to feed myself with the promises of God instead.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.
If we walk in step with the Spirit we will see with eyes of faith the true nature of reality: we live in a physical world with spiritual activity all around us.
And sometimes the spiritual activity all around us is a host of angels, flanking us as we march into battle.
Yours encouraged by the truth,
Alison
