Musing – Are We Expected to Be His Soldiers?

Hebraic Musing – Are We Expected to Be His Soldiers?

The Bible is a war story. God started recruiting His army as soon as His people left Egypt.  He was preparing His army to fight not only physical but spiritual battles of life and death.  Since the time they left Egypt, Israel was being prepared to become the army of the Lord Almighty! 

Old Testament -- The book of Numbers begins with counting the children of Israel for military purposes.   The Lord spoke to Moses … after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.  … number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. Num 1:1-3   NIV  At that time, they were not far from the Promised Land and didn’t realize they had 40 more years.  I’ve often wondered if the wait was (a) due to the lack of faith by the 12 spies, or (b) to give God time to prepare His army for the battles ahead.  Nevertheless, their journey took 40 more years. God needed them to get organized, unified and prepared for the battles ahead.

And right after the first Passover -  And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies. Exod. 12:51  NKJV    Many English translations say “hosts” rather than "armies."  The Hebrew word "tzava'ot" is often translated as "hosts" or "divisions", but the verbal root is "tzava" which means "to wage war".  For example:  Zech 14:12  Adonai will strike all the peoples who made war against Yerushalayim… CJB  

Every army needs a military commander: Hos 12:5  Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot; Adonai is his name! CJB  Or in NKJV -  That is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name. Hos 12:5  NKJV   

And the God of Hosts also controls and uses nature to fight our foes - You will be visited by Adonai-Tzva’ot with thunder, earthquakes and loud noises,… Isa. 29:6  CJB  

New Testament -- The need for a military mentality continues in the NT. We saints become the soldiers who are expected to serve; and Paul used military terms:  But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier…  Phil 2:25  NIV   And ,,,to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier…  Philemon 2  NIV  

Do you think this word of encouragement from Paul to Timothy might apply to us?    Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  2 Tim 2:3  NIV 

Book of Revelation tells of the final war between Satan and the King of Kings -- Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and His army. Rev. 19:19  NIV    Will the Lord God of Hosts count you as one of His soldiers in His army?

Points to ponder

Do we accept the news of the day? Or are we listening for His marching orders?

Were you prepared for Spiritual battles right after you were saved?
Or did you need time and experience in His boot camp?

Are we in unity battling the enemy, or are we warring against each other?

What are we fighting for?

♫ I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery
♫ I may never fly o'er the enemy,  But I'm in the Lord's army!   Yes Sir!
♫ I'm in the Lord's army!   Yes sir!    I'm in the Lord's army!    Yes sir!

Ready for war?                                                                       June 30, 2015    

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,  Author::