Enemies to the Promise

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—” Deuteronomy 7:1.

“This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.” Joshua 3:10

This list of –ites are all enemies to the promises of God.  Each of these people groups represented these enemies.  Their names not only have meaning, but also pronounce who these enemies are. The Canaanites were traffickers who groveled themselves for wealth.  The Hittites were dismayed discouragement.  The Perizzites were referred to as an unwalled village, i.e. lacking in the defense of self-control. The Jebusites were trampled down and polluted.  The Girgashites were clay, i.e. earthly focused.  The Hivites have a more unusual name.  They are referred to as a life-giving small town.  They had the “good life”—without God.  The Amorites were a tribe of fear.  As you seek the Lord for the fulfillment of the promises of God in your life, be on guard for these enemies.  These attitudes need to be viewed as your enemies and the enemies of the Promised Land, not as something to be tolerated in a fallen world.

 Groveling for wealth is the enemy of God’s promise to be your Provider. Dismayed discouragement is the enemy of the Joy of the Lord. Lacking self-control is the enemy of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Being trampled down and polluted comes against being holy and He is Holy.  If you’re earthly focused you’ll miss the actions of Heaven.  Having the “good life” without God lulls you into a deadly sleep lacking in the oil of the Holy Spirit. And finally fear is the enemy of trusting in the love of God.

 You also need to be aware of the strategy of the Lord in ridding you of these enemies.

“The men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them.” Joshua 4:12

The name Manasseh means to forget.  Gad means to attack and invade. Finally the name Reuben means to see or perceive a son.  The strategy to defeat these enemies involves forgetting your past, perceiving your adoption as a son, and going in and attacking.

“Those who are lead by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.” Romans 8:15

Lord, we are so thankful that You have wiped away our sins by the Power of the Cross.  We no longer are condemned by our past—You have set us free, and by Your grace we will walk in that freedom.  We acknowledge that we have enemies bigger and stronger than ourselves—but they pale in comparison to our Daddy’s Power and Might.  We ask that You would help use to perceive even more that we are Your precious children—that we might not fear, but attack these enemies knowing that our loving Father will drive them out.  Give us understanding and wisdom to be on guard but not fearful and to have the courage to go in and take the Promised Land You have given to us.  Thank You for equipping and enabling us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.