Are you prepared for the battles and struggles you may confront in your future? Life can be very difficult at times, and while we don’t need to be overcome with worry about what might happen, we should do what we can to avoid mistakes that we will pay dearly for later. Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the wise and foolish builders reminds us that life’s storms will come and that only those who have prepared wisely will survive. Matthew 7:24-27.
Today, we transition from the book of Exodus to Numbers, where we find Moses in the tabernacle receiving God’s instructions to prepare the Israelites for the battles they will face as they advance toward the Promised Land. After the work on the tabernacle was finished, Moses examined it, and ” just as the Lord had commanded, they had done. So Moses blessed them. ” Exodus 39:43. My understanding is that the construction of the beautiful structure took between nine months and a year to complete. God freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery a year ago, and as the new year opens before them, they have the tabernacle where God will dwell among them as they advance toward the Promised Land.
“Now it came about in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was erected.” Exodus 40:17.
One month after the tabernacle is put up, we witness another of Moses’ encounters with the Lord. Who can forget the thrilling experience of God’s call to him from the blazing bush and Moses’ struggle before surrendering to God’s will? Or, what about the exhibition of God’s miraculous power as Moses confronted Pharaoh with God’s demand to “let my people go?” Then, again, at Mount Sinai, where Moses spent forty days receiving the Ten Commandments! Each encounter was filled with great purpose and great expectations!
The book of Numbers opens with God initiating yet another plan for Israel’s future. Here, God instructs Moses to begin preparing the Israelites for the battles they will face as they advance toward the Promised Land.
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, ‘Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head, from twenty years old and upward who can go to war..'” Numbers 1:1-3
As usual, Moses quickly obeyed, and a census was taken of all tribes, except the Levites, who were given the priestly duties and care of the tabernacle. When the census of the eleven tribes was completed, 603,550 men of age twenty and above were chosen for battle. At this point, the tabernacle was placed in the middle of the tribes, with each tribe assigned a permanent position around the tabernacle. Do you notice what God is saying to His people by the placement of the tabernacle? Where will He be as they face the battles ahead?
God knows our future; the struggles and battles we will face and the temptations Satan will use to distract or defeat us. Like Israel, our battles come in both physical and spiritual forms. God promised the Israelites the land He gave to Abraham, but it had become occupied by godless, pagan people who had to be fought and defeated. God would be with them, providing strength and wisdom for their battles, but they would need to fight for the land and place their complete trust in Him for victory. Their enemies would be great and strong, but God promised victory if they would be faithful to follow Him.
However, as we will see, the greatest battles that will take place are not with the Amorites or other people, but on the battlefield of their minds, their lack of faith, and their willingness to make the necessary effort to win the battles. The battlefield of our minds is what Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness…”
The Israelites would face “flesh and blood” opposition in their quest to take the promised territory, and God promised to be faithful to them if they would be faithful to obey Him. But their biggest problem wasn’t their flesh-and-blood enemies; it was their lack of faith in God.
We have this issue in common with the Israelites, don’t we? Our major issue is how we deal with our problems spiritually. Our attitude and response to our problems will determine our spiritual progress and whether God will be honored in our trials.
As followers of Jesus, we have our share of troubles, trials, and temptations. Jesus said, “In the world you will have troubles, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
What do we do to prepare for the battles ahead? First, trust in God and His Word to give us wisdom and courage to face whatever challenge may come.
Second, accept the fact that God allows problems, not to harm us but to grow us in faith and dependence on Him.
Third, trust with all your being that God is good and that He will work in everything you deal with to bring something good from it.
Fourth, continue to live faithfully even when you cannot see or understand what is happening.