When God's people humble

Aton Lunghar *

"I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe'' -Mary, Queen of Scots

God is underived but self-existent. History of mankind is all about His story. All human history begin with 'once upon a time' but His story begins with 'once before a time'. It is God's prerogative to choose any people to be called his people as he chose the people of Israel. God shows kindness and mercy to anyone he wants to and he does not give account to us of what he does. That which distinguishes God's people from other people or nation is the personal presence of God in us (Ex 33:16).

Our heavenly Father is a jealous God who always wants his chosen people to be the head and have the upper hand. God's love for his people is not because they are lovable persons but because God is love.

God made his chosen people Israel a unique and a blessed nation. As the Lord was with them in a special way, the Israelites were victorious in all their battles. Victory belonged to them provided they obeyed their living God. God wanted Israelites to be righteous and holy people. But despite having experienced and seen many miracles in the wilderness for forty years, again and again the Israelites backslid and forgot their living God.

Moses and Joshua admonished them not to depart from the Lord in their plenty. But the rebellious people of Israel disobeyed and departed from their God again and again. Therefore God used the Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, Medianites, and other Canaanites to be their enemies and let the Israel return to him. Israel humbled and relied on their God only when they were in difficult situation. However, God forgave and rescued his people when they turned to him.

As long as Moses prayed for Israel, Israel prevailed over Amalek, but when he rested Amalek were winning (Ex.17:11). Thus, when Israelites had broken the contract, God' s covenant with them was no longer in effect. Likewise even if God has promised something great to us, if we continue to live in sin, God' s covenant with us will be inoperative (Judg. 2:3). When a righteous man turns to sin, God' s promise will not be in effect.

When we try to understand the account of God's people in the bible, it is seen to be similar to the Christians of today in many ways. God has led us thus far in our journey. His word clearly tells us not to forget him when we become fuller and self-sufficient. But we continually turn our back on God and stop relying on him. Like Achan of Israel our people have preferred to live for their possessions to living dependent on God.

Even if God promised Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey , for their disobedience, not a single of Israelites twenty years old and older save Caleb and Joshua entered the Promised Land. Today how many of us who were called to be his have severed their true relationship with the living God by living corrupt and unwanted lives. They all have gone for increasing their possessions by forsaking the Lord.

God is displeased with us thereby giving a way to enemies to be against us. Thus, more and more people and communities are made to come out against us and be thorns in our sides. Here the important lesson we can learn through what is happening is not to fight against them but to humbly turn to the Lord for forgiveness and for help.

Dear soul mates, let the present situation we are facing be the call of the Lord to bring us back to Him as his forgiven people. For God delivers the humble. Many of us defy our God and flee from him when a trial comes. But let this not worry us. Rather let's feel remorse with true repentant heart for the lives we have lived and cry to the Lord for help. We shouldn't be dismayed and frightened by the sneers of the enemies who are sent by God whom we have dishonoured and disgraced.

Let us plead with the Lord to save us from our enemies. For when God helps his people, even the strength of enemies will become like a moth-infested cloth.

Who is God's equal in heaven and on earth? Who changed the hardened heart of King Pharaoh? Our enemies boast of their chariots, armies, and of weaponry. It is neither by might nor by power but by God's spirit we will conquer. Though few and weak, we shall overcome our enemies one day. Just feel humble and cry to the Lord in prayer. God is concerned with quality than quantity (Jdg. 7:7).

We need brave and Godfearing prayer-warriors like Jashobeam, Eleazar, Shammah and the three friends of Daniel (Dan. 3:17&18) to save our people and our land. It is promised in the scripture (Ps 56:8) that when we cry to the Lord, he will collect our tears and store in his heavenly bottle. God does not ignore the prayer of a man in trouble when he calls him for help. He is close to those whose hearts are breaking and he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins (Ps 34:18).

God can let our worst enemies be at peace with us when we please Him (Gen 33:4 / Pro 16:7) when our humbleness is acceptable in God's sight, he will let our enemies be his enemies. The Lord will fight for us against our enemies. Solution of all our enemies-related problems is in living in Christ. Enemies' sneers will be silenced when God involves on our side.

God our Father is not a small God to be underestimated. Remember, God killed 1,85,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night by using only one angel to rescue his people (Is 37:36). He destroyed the selected armies of Pharaoh incredibly.

The Lord is famous for the way he punishes the wicked in their own snares (Ps 9:16). Let's confide in the Lord. May the Lord give us spiritual wisdom and strength to know what to do (Ps 16:7). Let's humbly pray and see the incredible rescue operation God, the living Father will perform for us (2 Chr. 20:17).

No force on earth can defeat God's people when they make prayer their strongest weapon.