INTRODUCTION

God certainly works in mysterious ways! At times, in order to bring about His desired plan in the lives of His own people, the Lord strengthens the hands of His enemies. This canprove painful to the people of God but serves as a stark reminder that God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
See All...).  He does what it takes to bring His people back into a proper fellowship with Him; however, the situation is never intended to be permanent. God merely waits for the moment when the hearts of His people turn toward Him again. When this happens, the Lord acts swiftly on behalf of His people to destroy that enemy once strengthened for the purpose of chastening His children (Judges 3:15-30 [15] But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. [16] But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. [17] And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. [18] And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. [19] But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. [20] And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. [21] And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: [22] And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. [23] Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. [24] When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. [25] And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26] And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. [27] And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. [28] And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. [29] And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. [30] So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
See All...). The only delay is the hardness of man’s heart in turning toward the Lord.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Israel should have easily smitten the city of Ai for the people were few in number. Because the children of Israel had sinned, the Lord strengthened the people of Ai (Joshua 7:2-5 [2] And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. [3] And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. [4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. [5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
  See All..., 11-12). When the sin was put away, God again gave a great victory to His people (Joshua 8:1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Have you ever had a time where you felt as though the Lord enabled your enemies to gain an advantage over you? For what purpose did the Lord strengthen your enemies? Did you ever turn your heart back to following after the Lord?
• Any advantage the enemy gets over you must first be allowed by the Lord. Has your enemy been strengthened against you?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Repent before the Lord for anything hindering your fellowship with Him.
• Ask God to show you when He has strengthened your enemy.

HYMN

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

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