Victory Contingency

^"So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron."

Judges 1:19

 

This verse is intriguing because it points to man's failure in spite of God's power, authority, and sovereignty.  Are chariots too hard for God to destroy?  The LORD was with Judah but they remained incapable of complete victory over their enemies.  God made the wheels of the Egyptian chariots fall off as their army pursued Israel through the Red. Sea.  God made Sisera's 900 chariots as nothing and killed every man of his army with the sword.  Joshua told the children of Joseph to drive out the Canaanites, but the people complained that their enemies had chariots of iron.  Joshua 17:18 reads, "...but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."  The chariots were not the issue.  The issues were obedience, trust, and willingness.

Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  God commanded the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan He had promised to them and their fathers.  If they were obedient, they would be victorious.  God would give the victory, but they would be required to fight.  They did not walk in obedience to God, and therefore could not drive out the well-established people of the land.  Because they did not believe they could succeed they did not obey.  And because they did not obey, they did not succeed.

The disciples were faced with a demon they could not cast out of a child.  Though Jesus had given them all authority over evil spirits, they were unable to drive the demon out.  When the child was brought to Jesus, He rebuked the demon and it left.  The disciples approached Jesus in Matthew 17:19-21:  "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" ²⁰ So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." There must be faith coupled with works of obedience to walk in the victory Christ gives.  When we do not walk in obedience to God in prayer, we forfeit authoirty granted us by the grace of God.  Though God is able, we can remain unable.

 

Lack of faith and disobedience disables us from walking in victory.  Victory is contingent upon our obedience.  The more we are yielded to God, the greater capacity is available for God to work in and through us.  God will make the iron chariots of our enemies as stubble if we will be obedient, trust, and remain willing.  Isaiah 1:19-20 teaches us, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; ²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 

Let us again bring to mind the truths of Isaiah 59:1-2 to bear upon us in times of spiritual and moral failure:  "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. ² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."  God is only and always victorious.  How wonderful to know that God is always strong and able to save.  We need not be slaves to the cruel master of sin, though he rides upon chariots of iron.  God is able to shut the mouth of the lion; He is able to keep the flames of the furnace from scorching us, though others fall by the thousands; He is able to part the Sea so we might walk upon dry ground.  He is able to save to the utmost all who come to Him in faith.  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ!  May we be willing and obedient that we might glorify our LORD by walking in this victory!