Salvation of the Lord alone;
Grace is a shoreless sea.
~ C.H. Spurgeon
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
~ from Exodus 14
Oh beloved, it is true. His Word is absolutely full of the true stories where G_d brings about great, even epic victories in the grimmest of battles. Personal, familial, tribal, political, and all eminently spiritual; these battle are real. Over and over G_d shows up and basically cleans the clock of the enemy at hand.Said simply:
G_d always wins. G_d never fails. G_d destroys His enemies.
He is at the very least:
- Our Hedge
- Our Banner
- Our Refuge
- Our Husband
- Our Fortress
- Our Deliverer
- Our Lover
- Our Provider
- Our Healer
- Our Defense
- Our Front and Rear Guard
- Our Stronghold
- Our Strength
- Our Friend
- Our Rock
- Our King
- Our Savior
- Our Light
- Our Life
But this reality is frightening. Standing in defiance of G_d, or moving to bring harm to a child under His Patriarchal umbrella is an exceedingly reckless and foolish approach. Regardless, it is dreadful to witness the unfolding of His wrath on the perpetrator.
As surrendered believers, we will most certainly go through trials. And, just as certainly, we will witness the salvation and wrath of the L_RD on our behalf. When He delivers us (He will) there is a deep sense of thankfulness, wonder and worship as His victory unfolds in front of us. This is always true and yet, as we grow, He adds a facet to the jewel of joy that flows from His strength: compassion for our enemies.
As His Spirit pervades our being and we begin to take on His righteousness, we no longer take satisfaction simply in G_d winning victories on our behalf. No, beloved, we weep for those who would hurt us. We ache for those souls who are trying to find satisfaction apart from the only One who satisfies. We see that unbelievers who lash out at believers are really (in their deepest parts) only thrashing about like drowning men – simply trying to grab at anything before they go under the water for good. In the wisdom that only comes from the fear of G_d, we see our enemies as sinners who need our Friend as much as we do.
And then He lets us feel it. We love our enemies… deeply. We love them so much that it hurts worse than the hurt they tried to put onto us.
We want to reach out so as to heal their wounds instead of licking our own. We try, and some are ready to listen; some are not. We’ve become like magnets to the world. Some are attracted to the attractiveness of Jesus in our lives – and some are repelled. We can’t determine who is pulled in and who is pushed away. We know that. But our heartbeat has begun to resonate to His presence in our lives. We want people whole – not destroyed.
His victories over our enemies sometimes destroys them. But, best understood, His victories over our enemies destroy our own pride and self-righteousness. We realize that we who deserve the same fate have been lifted from the mire for no reason other than His great Love and Grace.
Would that we would always love our enemies as much as Jesus Loves them. That even as He pours out His necessary wrath, He weeps at the task, and desires that none should perish in the flow.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
