Truth & Our Enemy

In Deuteronomy 9:1–2 Father says, “Hear, Israel! You are crossing the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are great and fortified to heaven, a people who are great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand against the sons of Anak?’ (NASB 2020)

Like the Anakim of old, our enemy today seems like a giant we cannot hope to defeat.

But Father continues in Deuteronomy 9:3. He says, “So be aware today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over ahead of you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and eliminate them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you.” (NASB 2020)

Father graciously reminds His people that He will cross over before them. Indeed, we read in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus is “the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NASB 2020)

The Lord Jesus was the vanguard, the one who lead the way. He crossed over, and like a consuming fire He subdued our enemy so that we are able to quickly defeat him.

As we travel through enemy territory here in the valley of the shadow of death, we can remember that the Lord Jesus has subdued our enemy so that we can drive him out quickly.

Perhaps this is what James had in mind in James 4:7 when he wrote, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NASB 2020)

Saints, our enemy looks terrifying; like Goliath looked to the Hebrew people. But he has been subdued by our lovely Lord Jesus. Now he goes about roaring like a lion to see who he can intimidate and hobble, but in truth he has been de-clawed and defanged.

Truth is his kryptonite. Use it liberally when he shows up to try and buffet you with his lies and accusations. In this way, you are taking those thoughts captive to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).