Day 14 Live to Fight

 1/14/2025 

It's always reassuring to me, and a bit baffling, when my daily scripture readings and the message I glean coincide with either another devotional or a conversation. In today's case, I was stunned to hear a member of our prayer call with the same thoughts as mine regarding the same passage of scripture. I sit up and take notice when something like this happens, or when God wakes me up with one very understandable word. In our Torah portions we have been studying the life of Joseph. He's one of my favorites, and I can identify with his life and the roundabout method God chose to get His point across to Joseph's family in order to save their lives and those of people living in Egypt and surrounding areas. Nothing happens by coincidence in the scriptures and certainly not in my life. 

Joseph's story begins in Genesis 37 and ends in Chapter 50. Joseph was well loved by his father, so his brothers hated him. Joseph was born late in Jacob's life, as Rachel, his mother, couldn't conceive until the appointed time. Joseph has two dreams that really upset his brothers and irritated his father, as they suggested that they would one day bow down to Joseph. So, his brothers end up selling him to some Ishmaelite traders who take him to Egypt. During a series unfortunate incidents, Joseph ends up in prison, eventually working his way up to being second in command subject only to Pharaoh. Joseph's dreams proved to be very important, as they foretold of a great famine coming to the country after a time of prosperity. So, in the end Joseph ends up saving the lives of his family and reuniting with his grief stricken older father. It's a great story!

Joseph marries Pharaoh's daughter, having two sons, Manasseh which means "to forget," as Joseph could put the past behind, and Ephraim meaning "fruitful, productive, and fertile." Joseph told his brothers that what they meant for evil God turned around for good. 

In the scriptures God speaks of appointed times and seasons, and Biblical prophesy is working its way out today. In discussing the prayer points for Israel today, we were discussing this story and the significance of how it relates to the hostage deals. It always seems that things get close to happening, everyone is anxious because we have prayed for breakthrough for so long, and then, the other side changes its mind or changes the agreed to deal. This has happened so many times. But just like Joseph, leadership, as well as the hostage families, must continue to remain steadfast under extreme pressure. Hard to do, but today is day 466 since the tragic day. 

Over the weeks I have had many dreams and quick visions when I drift off to sleep in my chair, and I feel that the angel of the Lord is keeping vigil over these dear ones, even though they are suffering at the hands of evil. Days before this, God had given me the word, "Stand," as in Ephesians 6 when we put on the whole armor of God. I remembered a phrase from the movie "The Mummy," where the lead character, anxious to save the librarian, was told to "live to fight another day." The important thing is that the hostages are released, the living and the dead, to bring closure to the families and peace. The battle can still be won, so this will never happen again.

The people of Israel have been steadfast in their ability to continue on, even participating in joyful feasts, but all our hearts are heavy, waiting. As we stand, as we pray and trust God, we must remain steadfast in our hope, our faith, our trust in God. The worship song for the morning, as we always enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, was an old favorite of mine, "Great is Thy Faithfulness." I think this was very meaning considering all things.

Tuesday evenings I join a smaller group, including some from the daily calls, and we pray for Israel and America, as the two are inextricably joined together. The scripture portion I felt led to share was from Isaiah 57:7-11:

⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
⁸ Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
¹⁰ For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

So much is going on in our nation and world that can cause us to take our focus off of more important things. I call these distractions, and although they are all very serious, the enemy uses such to divert our attention and prayer away from the main focus. He has been particularly busy for the last few years. Nothing happens by coincidence. God does not cause catastrophic things to happen, but He can use them to work out His plans. In the meantime, as we pray, we must "stand" and be "steadfast." As watchmen on the wall for Israel, we will keep our eyes fixed on the Commander of the Armies of Heaven, remaining at our assigned posts, remaining in the fight:

Isaiah 62:6-7

⁶ I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
⁷ And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

This is our position and mandate from the Lord, and we will be watchful, and we will remain hopeful, looking for any ray of sunshine to light our way.