The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle.

They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.

They forgot what He had done, the wonderful works He had shown them.

Psalm 78:9-11

Why do we study the history of the Israelites?  What relevance do they have to our modern day issues and struggles?  I am reading through the old testament at the moment and sometimes I do scratch my head as to why God would preserve this specific information for us to study in the year 2007.

The answer is simple.  If we scratch beneath the surface, we will see the history of the Israelites parallel our own spiritual walks with God.  There is a richness of detail for our benefit and guidance in how we are to walk with our God in modern times.  So with that in mind, let us look at the above passage about the Ephraimites.

Ephraimites were one of the tribes of Israel.  They were equipped with all they needed to fight, but when the “rubber hit the road”, they fled.  Can you imagine the scene?  Here were mighty warriors, dressed in impressive armor, trained and equipped for this very day of battle.  But what happened?  One sniff of the battle before them made them uneasy.  Not one arrow was shot.  Everyone turned back home.

Why this superficiality?  Why did they look so good and yet were useless?  The answer lies in the text.

They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.

Hypocrites line the ranks of Christianity.  They look good on a Sunday, carrying their big Bibles around, a fascade of holiness and superficial joy.  They say one thing on Sunday and do another thing from Monday to Saturday.  They live a double life.  They look well and ready to take on anything the enemy has to throw at them, BUT when they come face to face with any resistance or struggles, they retreat sheepishly. 

Why?  Essentially they have not surrendered themselves to God.  They know of God’s covenant but refuse to live by His law.  There is no effort to apply what they read and hear.  It’s too hard.  It’s too impractical.  I don’t want to give up my pride.  This is so silly.  I will look like a fool if I do this.

We try to live a religion of Christianity without God amongst us.  We pick out bits of religion that we like and ignore the God whom we are to worship.  We look good on the outside but are empty on the inside.  Jesus did not mince words when he described people like this.  We are like white-washed tombs.  Looking clean and presentable on the outside, but full of rot and dead bodies on the inside.

They forgot what He had done, the wonderful works He had shown them.

Have you heard the phrase “goldfish memory”?  I think I have that sometimes.  Within a very short period of time of God doing something marvelous, I forget His faithfulness and goodness to me.  Doubts begin to creep in.  Are you real God?  Will you really look after me?  Can I really trust you?  And only just recently, God would have affirmed His love for me undisputedly.  How could I have forgotten so easily?

This is another reason why we run from battle.  We forget all that God has already done for us and have promised to do for us.  In the heat of battle, we lose sight of God.  We begin to draw upon our own strength and abilities.  God says that the battle is His.  The victory is already won. 

Let us all learn from the Ephraimites today.  Don’t run from battle.  Let us live a genuine Christianity, not just following a religion.  Let us draw strength from God’s goodness and faithfulness and not forget all He has already done from us.

Hi everyone.  Well, things are getting busy now.  I just returned from a 3 day workshop on research.  It was truly excellent and I had the chance to mingle with some of the high-flyers of general practice.  Lots of professors and dedicated doctors who have poured their life into their profession.  I am truly inspired.  At the moment, I am praying about the possibility of going into academia – this means that for next year, I may only work “part time” in clinical work.  Spending the other half of my time teaching in a medical school and doing research.  It may also free me to pursue and fulfill my duties in all the other spheres of my life.  Life is short and I want to make maximum impact with the time I have. J  Please pray for me as I consider this option.

Web statistics