Know Your Enemies...

The idea of having enemies is harsh. Many try to live as if there is no such thing. I wish I could avoid that reality altogether. But the fact is, there are people and forces in our lives that don’t want what is best for us. If they have their way we will end up in an oppressed state. So a wise person acknowledges that fact and embraces the idea that there are some relationships to be avoided. A problem comes however in recognizing some enemies.
“God spoke to Moses, from here on make the Midianites your enemies. Fight them tooth and nail. They turned out to be your enemies when they seduced you in the business of Peor.” ~Numbers 25:16-17
Israel was headed toward their Promised Land with the presence of God travelling beside them and a vision of a great future before them. It was at this time that the people from Moab decided on an evil plot. Rather than attack Israel directly they had their women seduce Israel’s men and turn their eyes from their determined march toward the Promised Land. The Moabite women were very effective and became so emotionally intertwined that the men of Israel couldn’t bring themselves to call them an enemy, even though they were now doing surprising things. Know this...it’s not the enemy that attacks us directly that’s most dangerous, it’s the one that comes like a friend but seduces us to want something other than God’s vision. God’s plans for us must be protected! Do you KNOW YOUR ENEMIES? ~Verlon