Brief Periods of Rest

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Audio for this article here: SermonAudio.com/StudyGrowKnow

Links:

• The great economic destruction and complexity
• Duck Duck Go has joined the “woke” crowd
• A new heresy – Child Liberation Theology
• Leaked audio of former NIH director reveals plan to force Americans to accept CV jab or lose jobs
• DOJ tried to coerce children of J6 defendants to lie about their parents
• Like everyone else, the Pope is in a dying body…
• Did Kamala encourage WWIII by urging Ukraine to join NATO?

Obviously, a great deal is happening throughout the world and much of it is based on the situation between Russia and the Ukraine. Before anyone accuses me of supporting Putin (I’m not), please understand that it appears that due to Kamala Harris encouraging Ukraine to join NATO, she either wittingly or unwittingly encouraged Ukraine to break the Minsk Agreement with Russia. Obviously, the situation between Russia and Ukraine is very complex and everyone has an opinion. Most are willing to place sole blame on Putin and ignore the fact that Zelensky of Ukraine is a puppet of Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum. The issue really is a concern because of the involvement of Schwab and his policies in that part of the world.

I’m of the opinion that what is happening between Russia and Ukraine is a completely contrived situation so that world leaders can take their two-year plus focus off COVID-19 and onto other things. CV didn’t work out as planned so obviously a war is needed to bring further destruction to global economies. This new war, encouraged by the Biden administration will also serve to leave Biden unaccountable for the economic damage he is doing (or allowing), to happen to the USA. Though he blamed Trump for allegedly not taking responsibility and promised that if he became president, he would take responsibility, quickly blamed Putin for the rise in gas prices throughout America.

The crux of the problem, in my opinion, is that the plan has always been to destroy America’s economy and by doing so, destroys America as a world power. There are too many coincidences to believe otherwise. For Americans, it appears as though we are being moved from one crisis to another with very little if any respite between. It can be exhausting if all we do is focus on the problems.

I’m reminded of the Israelites in the book of Joshua. Moses had just died and leadership had been transferred to Joshua, who had been associated with Moses for decades. Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land and the fight against the enemies there whom God chose to kick out of that Land. Why did God decide this, because He simply liked Hebrews better? No, He kicked nations out because of the plain fact that their cup of wrath had become full to overflowing. In other words, by God’s own admission He was going to use Israel as His arm of judgment against blasphemous and adulterous nations that spent their days worshiping Satan and even sacrificing their children to him via Molloch.

Joshua 1 highlights the preparatory stage to actually cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Joshua 2 covers the exploits of the spies sent from Israel to spy out the Land and how Rahab the prostitute hid the spies from authorities. Joshua 3 covers actually crossing the Jordan. Joshua 4 highlights the 12 memorial stones set up to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan and how, once the priests’ feet touched the waters of the Jordan, it parted like the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk over on dry ground. Joshua 5 deals with the fact that the kings on the other side of the Jordan heard about how God had parted the waters of the Jordan and how they began to fear the Israelites greatly.

Interestingly, also in Joshua 5 we learn that apparently, the new generation of Israelites had not been circumcised, so God demanded that they become circumcised. These were the Israelite men who had been born during the wilderness wanderings. God allowed the people to remain in their camp until they were healed (v 9). God gave a new name to the place where they camped; Gilgal (rolling, as in rolling away their reproach by circumcision). In Joshua 5:13, Joshua meets the Commander of the Army of the Lord. Notice Joshua worshiped this Commander and was not rebuked for it (v 14b), and was then told, as Moses had been, to take off his sandals because he was on holy ground (v 15).

Joshua 6 highlights the destruction of the city of Jericho. Joshua 7 highlights the fact that the Israelites were defeated at the city of Ai. Why? Because in spite of God’s command to leave all the “accursed” things and not take anything back to their tents, Achan did so. This created a huge problem for all of Israel and it brought about Israel’s defeat when they went up against Ai. The sin of Achan was found out and he, along with his family, donkey, oxen, sheep and other belongings were destroyed. To Achan’s credit, he admitted his guilt (vv 20-21).

In Joshua 8, with Israel back in fellowship with God, He granted the victory against Ai. Joshua 9 tells of the treaty with the Gibeonites that never should have occurred. Why did it occur? Because no one took the time to go the Lord and ask Him what they should do (v 14b). Do you ever do that? I know I have done so and it has done nothing but create problems.

Finally, after numerous further wars and conquests, in Joshua 11:23 we read the following:

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.

Some commentators believe this and a few other verses in Joshua prove that God had completely fulfilled His promises to Israel. They “rested” and were done. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Joshua 13 tells us of other land and areas that remained to be yet conquered, but someone other than Joshua would be needed because of his age. We soon learn more from the book of Judges. After the dividing of all the Land between tribes, Joshua 14:15b tells us simply, “Then the land had rest from war.”

They “rested” but not for long. There were still wars to fight and people to conquer, but in between, the Land was divided, cities were renamed and given special priority for Levites and/or cities of refuge. Finally, in Joshua 23-24, Joshua bids farewell to the Israelites and warns them as Moses had done of upcoming situations in which they would turn from the Lord. The book of Judges opens with the reality of continuing conquest in the Land.

Joshua led the Israelites to victory one after another against many kings and nations in the Promised Land. The cycle was interesting. Israel would fight and overcome, then fight and overcome, fight and overcome some more and then rest for a while. There might be a short or long time of no wars for Israel. Then they’d be back at it, fighting another enemy that God tasked them with conquering.

In fact, other Scripture tells us why God did not have Israel conquer all the nations at one time, but instead, gave them victories over time.

And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you (Deuteronomy 7:22 NKJV).

This may SEEM accurate (in Stanley’s now deleted tweet), but what he’s actually saying is that we cannot KNOW the truth about Jesus because of the questionable accuracy of 66 “ancient” docs. This is pure heresy, which is likely why he deleted it. Predators in our pulpits.

By way of application, isn’t this really what the Christian life is all about on this earth with respect to spiritual warfare? There are times we need to fight the enemy against the many temptations that come our way. The spiritual wars may seem unending because they go on for a while. Then, one day, there is a let up and we find ourselves at rest, not dealing with overt temptation. Sometimes, things simply seem great and during those times, we wonder what we did right? It’s enjoyable.

Maybe it isn’t so much what we did right to enter into a rest of sorts. Maybe it was simply that we struggled through temptations or difficult times and because of our struggles, they came to an end and we rested. The object is to learn to rest through our trials and temptations.

The hard part for every Christian is to literally get up each day and join the spiritual fight. Imagine being an Israelite man who was called upon to not only defend Israel but to go against God’s enemies offensively. God would tell them, “Go up, be of good courage for I have given them into your hand,” and the Israelites were supposed to go and kill people they had never met. I’ve never fought in any war. In fact, I did very little fighting even as a kid. I’m not sure how I’d feel if I had gone to war in the military and expected to shoot to kill enemies. But I also think most of the wars in modern times (since the early 1900s), were all politically motivated to enrich certain people. Yes, it was important to push back against Hitler and Stalin and a few others; to fight communism. But here we are in 2022 and Communism appears to be winning so what was it all about? Thousands upon thousands of deaths in every war and the world has learned nothing.

Spiritual warfare is obviously different. Christians are literally born into that spiritual battle because of our salvation in Christ. We have an obligation to resist the enemy of our souls. Failure to do so guarantees our defeat. But fortunately, God does not allow us to be in the thick of the spiritual battle all the time. Even King David, a man who knew what war was and had plenty of enemy blood on his hands, had breaks from war and fighting. He had times where he could relax, which also created their own special problems for him (2 Samuel 11). But in those days, it seems war came every year and was expected. Warring tribes of people were never content to leave well enough alone, just like the bully who enjoys picking fights. Either defend yourself or give away what you have to him.

I don’t know about you, but in these days, I’m feeling more and more like the battle rages and there are precious few breaks we have from it. As things continue to ramp up in society (with WWIII, increase in cost of gas, services and products), we will likely feel pushed and hemmed in from every side. The natural response to that is to want to hide from it. The thing we need to do, whether we like it or not, is understand that there are going to be more attempts by the enemy to hijack us spiritually, to make us doubt God, to make us think we are overwhelmed. But it is also during those times that we need to muster God’s grace and strength to be able to fight back so that we don’t lose ground.

I’m working my way through this like many of you. It’s uncomfortable at times and I find myself experiencing more frustration than normal. What can we do? Push on. If we don’t, we will be overcome. I’m finding that spending more time with family is very uplifting. Getting together with other Christians is also rewarding. We need each other for support, for prayer, and to simply know that there are others going through the same issues that we face.

I would like to encourage you to press on toward the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). I’m learning that He doesn’t fail and He does reward those who pursue Him.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective