Success over Opposition

Overcoming opposition is tough.  The news about all the turmoil in the world is almost too much for me to process these days.  US Marines launch large offensive in Afghanistan (AP), The Lord is coming back soon anyway, why fight it?  I know we’re supposed to occupy until He returns, but I find myself reading and watching political updates and world events less and less –Kremlin, US agree to maintain expiring nuke pact (AP).  I mean, what can I do about it?

I don’t like stress and opposition.  In fact, whenever possible, I usually find ways to side-step the whole event.  But whether it’s on a personal level, or national, opposition presents itself and it can be overwhelming.

I was groggy when I woke up (a little late, of course) but forced myself to take a little time to read the Bible.  Should I make coffee first?  Yes, otherwise I’ll just sit there and doze off.  Ok, but now, what to read?  I’m planning on starting in Genesis in January – hmnnn…  I opened up and saw I was in Isaiah 35.  Oh, this is a good, happy stretch, I’ll read it – about the glorious highway of holiness we can all look forward to.   Finally!  Some good news!  But right after that comes Isaiah 36, when the Israelites are faced with a massive, unstoppable army led by the king of Assyria, who had already wiped all the other fortified cities of Judah off the map.  And now they are at Jerusalem’s doorstep.  Yikes!  This is a hopeless situation – with a lot of evidence that they absolutely canNOT win over this enemy.

I was really taken by the horror of the situation.  I would have been the first one out of town on a back road looking for a cave to hide in.  The Assyrian leader yells at the top of his lungs so all the defenders of Jerusalem can hear – about how no god has been able to save the previous cities on their march, and about how nobody is coming to save them (there are more details, you should read it).  But then, an offer from Assyria that sounded appealing: they promised that if the people of God could just agree to submit without a fight, they could still eat from their own vineyards, live in their own houses, and skip along through life the same as if the king of Jerusalem was in charge.  Ah… that’s a pretty tempting.  What’s not to like about that?  Why fight anyway, and who really cares who’s in charge?

But, instead of reacting in the moment with fear or surrender, Hezekiah did something that I so often forget to do myself.  Here’s a new idea – he actually presented the situation to the Lord!  And God responded instantly by sending Isaiah with a message that starts like this: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria…(there’s a lot more here you should read it)….I will defend this city, to save it…”  There’s a lot more after this too, you should read it.  But just know that the victory was more massive than the opposing army and it was absolute.

A good friend of ours is facing so many cascading attacks right now that he could easily feel overwhelmed, outnumbered, outgunned, and just give up.  But, as is so often the case, the enemy overdoes it so that it becomes obvious what’s really going on.  In fact, our friend saw this very thing and God actually used it for a major breakthrough in his heart and spirit!!

The Lord Who knows everything about us, and holds all the galaxies and each of us in the palm of His hand, is way better able to overcome our opposition than we are…especially when we rely on our own schemes and supposed strengths.  God help us all to stop ourselves from REACTING in the moment, and to make it a habit to PROACTIVELY seek Him first!