Been reading from Joshua and how the Lord God gave him Jericho and all the cities. Time and time again we read how the Israelites were defeated when they fled or had their backs to the enemy. This is an interesting point that all should take note of.
When we read Joshua, the main reason for Israel to flee from their enemies and hence have their backs to them was due to sin or disobedience to the Lord. Due to Aichan’s sin Israel lost the battle of Ai as they had undealt with sin in their midst. As a result of their sin they were not obedient to the Lord's voice. This not only affected those with the sin but the whole camp or Israel. Metaphorically speaking, sin not only affects us but all those who are connected to us, whether it be our families at home, church or even at work.
Ephesians 6 speaks of the armour of God, the helmet of salvation, shield of faith, belt of truth, breast plate of righteousness and of cause the sword of the Spirit. All of these items, though truly effective and powerful in either protecting a person or attacking the enemy are only used at the front of a person. This was also a tactic used by the Roman's with their own soldiers, all soldiers were equipped for defence when moving forward but had none to the rear, as a result, their shields could be locked into place forming a wall of shields which assuming all held their positions was very successful in protecting the group as a whole. coincidently that had nothing to defend the rear. There is not defence to the rear and as we read from scripture it appears in God there is no retreat. Retreat ultimately comes when either one we have been defeated or two due to our lack of faith and trust that God is with us.
The Roman armies in formation with all their armour
It must be this feeling of lack of faith that we have when sin is in the camp causing us to have a defeated mentality. God's attitude to defeating the enemy is as the writer of Hebrews 2:14-15 says indicates is a defeated foe and “if God is for me, then who can be against me”. If therefore we know the enemy of our souls, that is the devil or Egypt still remains in our lives, then it is also expected that we will confidently advance knowing that God has already won the victory on the cross.
As Paul quotes in 1Cor 15:55 regarding Christ, “death where is your sting”, we who are in Christ can confidently proclaim the victory of whatever might come against us. this does not mean we can go on sinning either. Every believer remains confident in what God has done for him or her when he has a clear conscience and mind. As Revelation time and time again says, “they washed their robes” indicating we have a responsibility as believers to lay on the altar our flesh and sinful desires daily and as James says “confessing our sins one to another” so that we might be the “Holy” people God is looking for us to be in our walk with him.
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