, which typifies
the devil. In this historical event, the men of Jabesh were in great
fear of Nahash, and they wanted to make a treaty with him. They were
willing even to become his slaves so that they could co-exist
peacefully with him.
Jabesh means
dry. The sin of
unbelief had caused the people of God to become discouraged and
despondent. When all their hopes were gone, they became desolate to
their bones. And they gave up fighting.
But there could not be any peace treaty
with the devil. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
He is not satisfied until the people of God are totally humiliated,
totally disgraced and totally devastated!
In this Biblical account, Nahash wanted to
bring a reproach to Israel by gouging the right eye of every
Israelite. This same tactic was used on Samson when they scooped out
both of his eyes, bound him in chains, and made him a public mockery
before all the people (Judges 16:21-25).
Satan wants to employ the same method to
each and every one of us today! He seeks to totally debauch God’s
people so that we could neither obey the Great Commandment nor
fulfill the Great Commission.
What is the significance of the right eye?
In the ancient times, a soldier would take up his shield on his left
hand and his sword on the right. His right eye was used to gauge his
enemy’s position so that he would know where or whom to strike.
Without the right eye, the soldier was crippled in his warfare
against the enemy. He might kill his own people instead of his
enemies.
This is also true for us today in the
spiritual realm. If we allow the devil to gouge out our right eyes,
we will not be able to defend ourselves against his schemes or to
wage any spiritual attacks. We may end up fighting against
ourselves. Internal quarrelling and warfare within the Church!
Speaking against one another instead of loving one another!
The men of Jabesh Gilead almost yielded
themselves to their enemy’s discouraging threats instead of
encouraging themselves in the Lord. They needed to put their trust
back in the Lord. Without faith, they could fail miserably!
Where there is no vision, the people perish
(Proverbs 29:18). Losing our right eyes means blinding us so that we
are not able to see clearly. Our vision becomes one-sided. We see
what we see and not what God sees! Without our right eyes, we become
less right in our discretion and alertness. We also become
complacent and indifferent to the things of God. We lose our faith
in Him, and we become weary of any spiritual warfare.
Like it or not, the devil is all out to
destroy us whether we are fighting him or not. That’s why the
apostle Paul gave us this exhortation in
Ephesians
6:10-18:
Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord and
in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore,
having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
having shod your feet
with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith
with which you will be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end
with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."
This is the Church’s and Israel’s finest
hour! Arise and shine for our light has come! And the glory of the
LORD is risen upon us. For behold, the darkness shall cover the
earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over
us, and His glory will be seen upon us (Isaiah 60:1-2).
Let’s guard our right eyes so that we will
have the correct vision! Let's see through Jesus' eyes with His
kingdom's perspective and priority. Let’s fight the good fight of
faith in Christ. Let’s get rid of all the discouragements by
encouraging ourselves again in the Lord!
I read at the
end of the Book: We win!