To Encourage You

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

How much do physical things control your life?  What is it that you rely on?  In what basket do you put your eggs when the chips are down?  When you are in a difficult spot in life, do the things you can see control your attitude and actions or the things you can’t see?  The Bible tells us that some people trust on things they can see – e.g., chariots and horses – symbols of physical power. Pharaoh and the Egyptians were like that at the Red Sea.  They set out to overtake the Israelites as they fled. They had overwhelming force.  But we all know the story, as “the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea (Exodus 15:21).”  In the Garden of Gethsemane, we are told that Judas came with “a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, (who) went there with lanterns and torches and weapons (John 18:3).”  They came with overwhelming physical might against Jesus.  And that’s where Judas cast his lot.  That’s what Judas put his trust in – that and the 30 pieces of silver he was paid to betray the Lord.  Surely men were calling the shots here! Their might against the Holy One of Israel.  What fools!  As Jesus told Peter, He could have called 12 legions of angels to defend Himself, but that wasn’t necessary, for He saw things the others didn’t (Matthew 26:53). He saw the joy set before Him, so He could endure the cross (Hebrews 12:1). He could endure whatever men or Satan could throw against Him, because He knew that in reality, the victory was His, no matter how things looked to the physical eye. 

This brings to mind another account:  Elisha and his servant, surrounded by the great army of Syria which had come out to attack Israel.  We are told “When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17).”  Elisha saw things that others didn’t, for he had the eyes of faith, trusting in the Lord, his Shield. 

Every Christian should remind himself or herself that “If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?”  The believer is always in such a condition, no matter how things look. They have the overwhelming power of God on their side. They need never fear anything as they walk with the Lord.  Even though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they need fear no evil, for God is with them (Psalm 23).  And if God has chosen to not give a believer victory over physical death, we know that we will have victory in death, for even if we die, not a hair of our head will perish (Luke 21:18) according to the Word of the One we follow. 

May God help us to trust His Word, to believe all that He has said in every circumstance of life, no matter how things look to our physical eyes.  May he give us the spiritual vision to see Him in everything, for His name is Immanuel (i.e., “God with us”) no matter how things appear or how distant He seems to be.  He has told us in no uncertain terms “I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)” and it is not possible for our God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).