God Knows Your Enemy’s Strengths

Judges 1:17-19 And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it…so the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron.

Judges 4:3 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin [king of Canaan] had nine hundred chariots of iron…

Judges 4:15 And the LORD routed Sisera [King Jabin’s commander] and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.

Judges 5:20-21 They fought from the heavens. The stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away, that ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!

Hidden in these little-read passages is a story of God’s ability to overcome our enemies, even when they have a so-called “advantage.” We can see from the passage from Judges 1 that having chariots of iron was considered such a powerful weapon that the scriptures almost give Judah a pass for not being able to drive out the inhabitants of the lowlands. While it’s really more of an explanation than an excuse, one can tell from Judges 4:3 above that having such a weapon put that army in a position of great strength and superiority.

Yet when God sends His people out to wage warfare, He is fully aware of what they are facing. Judges 4:15 tells us simply that the Lord “routed Sisera and all his chariots,” and that “Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.”

How did that happen? Judges 5 tells us, in such a poetic way, that it nearly hides the method God used. The heavens opened, and God sent a flash flood. Simple, and easy. No chariot, no matter how powerful, can operate in muddy ground. It’s no wonder that Sisera got off his chariot and went running.

God knows how to bind your enemy, no matter how strong his advantage may be. It must have seemed insurmountable for Judah to face an enemy possessing chariots of iron. Yet how little it took for God to turn the enemy’s “strength” into a disadvantage. What’s your enemy’s seeming advantage? Is it length of time he’s been victorious? Is it how many people are with him? Is it all the resources at his disposal?

Happily, Judah didn’t try and figure out how God was going to give them the victory. They just moved forward in faith, and God moved. Let’s be like that. Our God knows exactly what it will take to stop our enemy in his tracks. Let’s step out in faith when He directs, and let’s watch Him move.

Prayer: Lord, You know my enemies and all their so-called “strengths.” I believe You’re wiser and stronger. Thank You that I don’t have to figure out how You might bring the victory—I only have to step ahead when You direct me.