Redeemer in Command

It is good for the child of God to realise we never are at the mercy of our enemies but our awesome heavenly Father.  An overwhelming trial or situation never puts us beyond God's help and perfect peace.  When the ground shakes under our feet or we start to lose our balance, we instinctively grasp at a handrail or something we know to be solid and can bear weight to stay upright.  Trials test us to see if we will run to and reach for the Rock of our salvation in our desperate state or give place to despair in unbelief.

Many times in the history of the nation of Israel their enemies had the upper hand.  Due to sin, idolatry or for God's good purposes not explained to us, Israel was oppressed and the people lived in fear.  The book of Judges has a repetitive theme of people doing what was right in their own eyes, forsaking God and His statutes, and then falling into the hands of their enemies to chasten them back to the LORD.  When they cried out to God in due time He raised up a deliverer from among His people to deliver them.  Even in God's punishment by the hand of heathen people He retained all rule--even over their enemies.

Consider the words of Deborah the prophetess in Judges 4:6-7:  "Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, 'Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; ⁷ and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand'?"  There is no question Sisera thought he had the upper hand over Israel with his 900 chariots of iron, but it was God who would deploy this enemy of Israel to his own destruction.  The NIV says God would "lure" Sisera.  Sisera proudly imagined himself to be the apex predator, but he was like a fish with a hook through the jaw by the God of Israel.  It wasn't long before his army was completely destroyed and he was dead in Jael's tent, head pinned to the ground with a tent stake driven through his temple.

In His wisdom God used Sisera to chasten His people back to faith and obedience to God, and in due time brought Sisera's brutal, oppressive ways to an end.  This same principle applies in the spiritual realm as well, for Satan cannot overcome God's wisdom and ways.  One day he will be destroyed forever, and we ought to rejoice in our Saviour more than his demise.  We do well to believe and proclaim what Paul did in Romans 8:28:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Oppressive enemies are not good; nagging illness, lack of sleep and severe conditions are not pleasant.  Spiritual attacks are terrible in themselves, but all these are easily redeemed by our awesome God who causes them to accomplish His good purposes for His people He loves and keeps as the apple of His eye.  Praise the LORD for His grace and faithfulness to us always.