The Christian's Kryptonite

"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

At face value, this is a most curious verse.  After affirming God was with the tribe of Judah and gave them success to drive out the inhabitants of the mountains, they were unable to drive out those in the valley who had chariots of iron.  Are chariots God's kryptonite?  Far from it.  This teaches us that even when God is with His people who trust Him, it is possible our neglect to seek Him and wait on His guidance can result in us falling short of His will for our lives.  God commanded His people to drive out the inhabitants of the land, yet we observe the Hebrews at times were reluctant, unwilling and unable to do so in the end.  The kryptonite of God's people has always been unbelief and neglect of seeking, trusting and obeying God.

David sang in Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  Armies and chariots posed no problem to God at all, for the battle is the LORD's.  The children of Israel had personally witnessed God's power over their enemies in Exodus 14:24-25:  "Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. ²⁵ And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."  The Egyptians realised something was wrong as they pursued the Hebrews, and they rightly assessed God caused their wheels to fall off their chariots.

A few chapters later in the book of Judges, we read of God's great victory over Sisera and his 900 chariots of iron through Deborah the prophetess and Barak.  Judges 4:3 tells us, "And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he harshly oppressed the children of Israel."  In response to the cries of His people and obedience of those who trusted Him, God defeated king Jabin's army--and notice the specific mention of chariots in Judges 4:15:  "And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot."  Strongholds, giants in the mountains and chariots in the Red Sea proved no problem whatsoever for God.  But those chariots of iron proved too difficult for the tribe of Judah--even though God was with them.

God's mighty power over all is demonstrated throughout the Scripture, and there is another common thread:  the neglect of God's people to humble themselves to trust, seek and obey Him.  Joshua was given the victory over the great stronghold Jericho when the children of Israel walked around the city for 7 days according to God's command, yet the Hebrews were subsequently routed when they attempted to take Ai without seeking God who revealed sin in their camp.  2 Chronicles 16:12 reads, "And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians."  Had Asa sought the LORD as Naaman the Syrian who was miraculously cured of leprosy by dipping in the Jordan 7 times according to the word of the LORD, the inference is Asa could have been healed of his severe malady by God too.  Seeking the help of physicians does not constitute a lack of faith in God, but Asa's issue was he did not seek the LORD.

The Bible is filled with testimonies of people who trusted God, sought Him in time of trouble, and God was faithful to fight for His people and gave them victory.  Judges of Israel, kings, common people--even a shepherd boy--were strengthened to defeat their enemies by faith in God and reliance upon Him.  What were a few chariots of iron before God whose heavenly hosts ride upon chariots of fire?  In response to King Hezekiah crying out to God, the angel of the LORD smote 185,000 men of Assyria (2 Kings 19:35)!  The tribe of Judah could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley who had chariots of iron, and let this be a cautionary tale for Christians who assume because God is with us we will prevail without our need to trust, seek or obey Him to do His will.