Last Sunday at Covenant, we added the people of Ukraine to our prayer list. They need all the prayers they can get as they bravely fight to survive under the severe threats posed by the invasion of their country by the evil Vladimir Putin and Russia.
Then two days later, Pastor Don called to tell me that a number of church members and friends of members wanted to contribute to relief efforts to support the Ukrainians in their effort to not only survive, but to continue their efforts to defeat Putin and Russia. We have begun that effort as Pastor Don identified the Baptist Foreign Mission Board (BFMB) as the group that will make sure 100% of our donations go to the Ukrainian people to support their humanitarian needs.
So we should pray continually for the Ukrainian people and send them whatever funds we can afford to support their efforts in their fight for survival and autonomy. What else can we, and should we, do to support this effort? I would suggest that in addition we must find comfort in that God is in charge here of the ultimate result. Let me support this statement with some scripture.
Israel had just completed its 40-year journey through the wilderness led by Moses, who then asked God in Numbers 27:16-17 – “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of humanity, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who will go out and come in before them, and lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” Then we see the Lord’s reply in Numbers 27:18 – So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Joshua then accepts the reigns of leadership from Moses in Numbers 27:22-23 – Then Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
Joshua was tested early when Israel arrived at Jericho. Joshua chapter 6 describes the Conquest of Jericho. Joshua 6:1-2 – Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have handed Jericho over to you, with its king and the valiant warriors. The Lord then described an intricate plan for Israel to march around the wall surrounding Jericho for six days, and on the seventh day they would march around it seven times and the entire wall would fall down, exposing the city and its warriors for Israel to defeat them. Israel followed the plans of God and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down just as God promised.
Joshua told Israel after this successful battle in Joshua 6:18 – But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things designated for destruction, so that you do not covet them and take some of the designated things, and turn the camp of Israel into something designated for destruction and bring disaster on it. However, Israel disobeyed as seen in Joshua 7:1 – But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully regarding the things designated for destruction, … they took from the tribe of Judah, took some of the designated things; therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.
The next battle for Israel came against Ai, a town west of the Jordan and east of Bethel. Joshua sent men to assess the situation there and they said in Joshua 7:3 – Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up; have only about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai; do not trouble all the people there, for they are few.”
Israel ignored God regarding the ban on taking Jericho goods and now again did not ask God how to succeed at Ai, but felt they knew what was needed. The end result of the men of Israel following their own hearts led to their defeat as described in Joshua 7:5 – And the men of Ai struck and killed about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them on the mountainside; and the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
The Lord spoke to Joshua about His anger at Israel for failing to follow Him. So the people came back to God. Israel was then told by the Lord in Joshua 8:1-2 – Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you. Arise, go up to Ai; see, I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoils and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it.” Following God’s plan, Israel was now successful in defeating Ai.
What is the purpose of this story? It shows that when Israel was loyal to God and followed His desires for them, they were successful and had abundance in their lives. When they were disloyal, they failed miserably on their own. This pattern continued throughout their battles to claim the Promised Land. How does this message apply to our world today?
None of us know how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will end. We do know that Russia planned this war to be over in three days, that they would go in and overwhelm this smaller overmatched country, and take it easily. Now, we see that has not happened. It turns out the Ukrainians are adamant in the defense of their country, and somehow much of the powerful Russian hardware has gotten bogged down in their travels through Ukraine and many of their armed forces seem to have disappeared.
My point in today’s message is that God is the great equalizer in our world, he can help common folks achieve uncommon success if we believe in Him and follow His wishes for us. Our role is to pray incessantly for God’s will to be done, and to support people in need.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 – pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 37:12-13 – The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.