“The great tyrant has not forgotten you, and he designs your capture and re-enslavement.”

– Charles Spurgeon

[5] When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” [6] So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, [7] and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. [8] And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. [9] The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
(Exodus 14:5-9 ESV)

I have heard stories of a man in a small trench (pill box type foxhole) where he sat armed facing three of the enemy because he was the only one who could guard them…all…night…long.

It is interesting to run this perspective from both sides as I can relate to some of it and will not go into what really crosses your mind when you are facing the eyes of the enemy – when you can smell the enemy.

Have you ever been that close to an enemy? Has THE enemy ever been that close? Robert Morgan asks the question of parallels between Pharaoh and Satan – both want(ed) total control both are willing to destroy that which belongs to the LORD. The enemy is described as a Serpent (Gen 3), Bird (Matt 13), wolf (John 10), Lion (1 Pet 5), and a dragon in (Rev 12).

When facing the enemy what does Scripture say for you to do?

[7] Submit (obey as a slave does a master) yourselves therefore to God. Resist (actively oppose – this means to FIGHT BACK) the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw (grow your relationship with the Creator – get closer to Him – see also Phil 3:10, Ex 19:22) near to God, and he will draw (He will respond to you in the same way) near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (literally being uncertain about truth, a doubter).
(James 4:7-8 ESV)

Do you willingly engage when you know the enemy is involved? As Skip has shown on his PowerPoint slide over the past few weeks – would you reach into the fire? Would you reach into the fire to pull out even a charred scrap to cling on to? The enemy will tell you that you can, Jesus will tell you that you can, you can do anything through Him that is His will but do you take that risk? As John Maxwell puts it – “do you take the risk to fail forward?”

Father,
I thank you for the blessing of Your strength and Your Word! I pray Father that we would be given the heart to face the enemy on Your behalf – for Your kingdom. Father, use us, in ways that we could never imagine, in ways that the unbelieving world could not believe and like the sailors in Jonah know that You are the One True God.
I thank you and praise you, in Jesus name I pray…
Amen

Adrian “AG” Green