Following the Holy Spirit’s lead often means operating in unfamiliar or hostile territory. It is human nature to be averse to leaving a familiar environment. Human logic concludes that we operate from a position of strength when we have determined the setting in which we function. That may be true in the natural environment, but not when the Creator is involved. God requires faith and trust in Him alone.
Some time ago I found myself in a difficult spot where I had to make a tough business decision. I either had to continue with what I had started (venturing in unfamiliar and hostile territory) or abort with some expense to the business. I needed to come up with an answer by the end of the business day and decided to walk to the mailbox to clear my head and ask God for help.
On my way back to the house, I noticed a package next to the front door. I had completely forgotten about the package and the curious delivery I observed the previous day. The delivery man turned up in an upscale black SUV, instead of the normal delivery van to drop the package. It turned out that the package was delivered at the wrong address, but significantly it was for house number “23” which was the quantity involved in my request for guidance from the Father. In that moment the Holy Spirit reminded me that “23” Biblically symbolizes “God is with us”. Back in my office, I noticed that the monthly wall-calendar page was a few months behind. I turned the pages to the current month. The scripture for the month was Psalm 23 v1-3. At that point I was convinced that I needed to continue as planned, but the Lord gave me another scripture (starting at verse 23) the next day which explained the purpose and circumstance
“Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. Now the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside. Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day. But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; then a wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left.” – 1 Kings 20:23-30
Fighting among our “familiar mountains” does require some skill and a level of faith, but it does not require complete trust and faith in God. The Father’s will is for His people to operate wherever He sends us. In every area of society, whatever the odds may be for success or whomever seem to be in control. The pagan faith of the Syrians led them to believe that they would win the battle in valley because that was the area over which their gods had dominion. But the living God, the great “I AM”, the creator of all things, is Lord over all. His authority extends to the ends of the universe. He is the God of the mountains but also the valleys.
On that day God showed Israel that the where, the when and the magnitude of the challenge does not matter. What did matter, was that they were obedient to God, He was with them and allowed Him to work through faith.
What did their faith look like? Well, they had to camp opposite the multitude of the enemy’s army for seven days! I can just imagine how much courage it must have taken for the “two little flocks” of God’s people not to run away while the enemy seemed to grow stronger and God seemed to do nothing. They believed God would be faithful to His promise regardless of what the facts on the ground looked like. That is real trust.
The faith of the Israelites released God’s uninhibited power as they charged into battle destroying a hundred thousand men in one day and God then finished off twenty seven thousand that was left on His own.
In a secular society it is easy to treat the living God like one of the pagan gods. God wants us to go deeper as we endeavor to spread the good news of the Gospel. Just like in the depths of the ocean (under pressure) we discover a world that few ever witness, a world filled with the hidden revelations of God that is unlocked through faith.
Have a blessed week.