Israel's Bad Day

And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. Deuteronomy 1:44

Israel had from the Lord several military victories, and they might have expected the same in this case but for one thing: the Lord told them that He was not among them. This was not their day for a victory and a definite 'don't go' sort of day. And yet, they disobeyed the Lord and received a mad chase in the wrong direction getting 'stung' all the way.  Israel had a bad day and some paid for it with their lives. 

Military historians tell us that most casualties in those ancient battles came from a rout. One army or the other would break or lose their nerve, and suddenly the backs of one army would be to the spears of the other and many would die. Israel suffered this sort of thing whenever they went into battle without the Lord. We might easily recall a time when victory seemed certain for us in a challenge or difficulty in life, and yet there was a sudden defeat, an inexplicable rout. Could it be that we did not wait on the Lord? Perhaps victory that time appeared so undeniable that we didn't even pray before facing that test? As Paul tells us, we will face powers and principalities of this present darkness, and without the Lord defeat is certain. 

Let us pray for one another in this day,

Bucky