The Captain Leads Us To Victory

By Lynn Wallace

"Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’” Joshua 5:13,14

The captain of the lord's army stood before Joshua. He fell down and worshipped Him. He entered God’s presence.

Joshua fought many battles for Israel. As long as the Captain preceded them, they triumphed over their foes. The Gibeonites (a Canaanite tribe) heard about Joshua’s conquests. They schemed to keep from his sword. These Canaanites pretended they came from a far country. They wore patched clothes. Their moldy bread and patched clothes fooled Joshua. They said, “We come from a far country.” Joshua forgot to pray and he made a treaty with them. Then he learned they lived a few miles away.

Much later, in King David’s day a famine troubled the people for three years. David inquired of the Lord. He answered: “It is on account of Saul and his bloodstained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 Samuel 21:1

David called this tribe and asked, “What shall I do for you?”

They answered, “Let us hang seven of Saul’s sons.” David agreed to this, but he spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, his dear friend. All of this happened because Joshua made a covenant with the Gibeonites. When we fail to pray and do wrong, we often suffer the consequences. Sometimes, even other people suffer for it.

I thought, I cannot do anything about my emotions. I failed to trust God who can do the impossible. I suffered three breakdowns after I came to Christ. Each time forced me to come home from a field of service. After I married, we enjoyed sixteen wonderful years together.

However, I still said, I cannot do anything about my “nerves.” I did not call them worries or anxieties. A pastor counseled me, “Lynn, you carry too many burdens.” However, I had not learned the meaning of the verse: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 Because I called them “nerves,” not cares or burdens, it took me years to learn this lesson.

After my husband died, I experienced blessed communion with my Lord. My “nerves” took flight. The next night I battled the devil. My “nerves” started to come back to me. I prayed, “Please, Lord, take them away.” Again, they flew away. Now, troubles come into my days at times, but I am learning to cast my burdens upon the Lord.

All of us face an enemy. Satan and his allies challenge us daily in warfare. Though we cannot see him, this person fights against us. When our Captain leads us, we will win. However, when we ignore Him, we will fall into Satan’s traps. God says, “Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4 We do well to remember that our Captain is greater than our enemy.

What can we do when faced with worries and troubles? He tells us to put on the gospel armor. He provides it. He says, “Pray in the Holy Spirit.” He warns us to watch out for the enemy and endure hardness. God will give the victory.

Lynn Wallace writes from Montrose, Colorado. writeheart@montrose.net