YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS AGAIN!

YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS AGAIN!  The Gospel is good news. One of the most powerful assurances of the believer is the guarantee of victory although we may not always know what that looks like (Matthew 16:19; Luke 10:19; Roman 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:14). Our faith challenge is that we do not always believe that God who helped us and gave us victory in the past, however recent, will do it again in a new battle and so are often gripped by fear in the face of an impending fresh battle. In our reading today, God’s people have just defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, but they are now facing a new enemy, King Og of Bashan. Ordinarily, new challenges would cause them to fear and grumble as we have seen throughout the journey from Egypt to the promised land. The Lord assures Moses of yet another victory in this new challenge and it is here we get the lesson on God’s assurance of victory no matter what battle we are facing.   Reading Numbers 21:31-35 (NLT) 31 So the people of Israel occupied the territory of the Amorites. 32 After Moses sent men to explore the Jazer area, they captured all the towns in the region and drove out the Amorites who lived there. 33 Then they turned and marched up the road to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and all his people attacked them at Edrei. 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.” 35 And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land. What are the lessons?         i.            God assures you and I victory even before the battle begins—“Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you”       ii.            Know that God’s intent and plan is to give you victory, moreover your battle is His—“for I have handed him over to you”     iii.            Do not be afraid, instead believe God—Philippians 4:6      iv.            Trust God to give you victory as he did before— “for I have handed him over to you… Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon”      v.            Take the steps He shows you—1 Samuel 30:8; Psalms 37:23 You will be victorious again. Lord, I thank you. You are forever faithful. You will show me your grace this one more time and I will be victorious again.  Melphon Mayaka