There are four very powerful stories in the Bible that I want to talk about today.
Everyone knows the story of Jericho. The walls came tumbling down. Have you ever really thought about it though? Did the walls come tumbling down because the Israelites marched around it for 7 days then blew their trumpets loudly? I say yes. Yes, because they believed that if they did what Yahweh told them to do that He would do what He said He would do. Their marching and their trumpet blowing was walking out their belief. Yahweh caused those walls to fall because Israel believed.
The next is found in Judges chapter 6 & 7 and is the story of Gideon. Gideon was a lowly man in Israel and Yahweh chose him as the leader of the army that would go up against the Midianites and Amalekites. Gideon had 22,000 men, which he didn't think were enough, yet Yahweh told him it was too many. Finally getting the number down to just 300 Gideon was told to go ahead with the mission to defeat this enormous army. When you read the ending to the story you'll realize that Yahweh didn't need Gideon or his 300 men at all - that He turned that army against themselves and Israel was free. Yahweh wanted Israel to believe. Yahweh caused this confusion and defeat of the enemy because Gideon believed. He trusted Yahweh to do what Yahweh said He would do.
One of my absolute favorites stories is of Elisha in 2 Kings 6. When the King of Aram had surrounded Elisha and his servant to kill them Elisha told his servant not to worry and then asked Yahweh to open the servants eyes to the truth. All around them was the Army of Yahweh, horses and chariots of fire. There was no need to worry because Yahweh was protecting them. Elisha believed.
And lastly, one that came to me last night as I was falling asleep and one I knew was so pertinent to this situation with Russia and Ukraine right now. Yahweh told me that we only have to believe, to trust Him with all our minds and all our hearts, and He can and will do the same things that He has always done for His people.
One of my favorite kings in the Bible is King Hezekiah. Time and time again he walked out his belief that Yahweh could do anything. He asked and it was given to him. The mighty Assyrian army with Sennecharib as leader was besieging Jerusalem. Sennecharib was offering to the people freedom if they would leave Jerusalem and Hezekiah. Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh and Yahweh listened. During the night Sennecharib's huge army turned against themselves and by the morning was completely decimated. Without Hezekiah or Israel doing anything - except believing! They trusted that if Hezekiah asked, it would be given. 2 Chronicles 32 and 2 Kings 18.
So we have this modern day Sennacherib, Russian's Putin, doing the same thing as was done to Jerusalem in Hezekiah's day. A bully who wants to take over the entire country of Ukraine and then move on to his next target.
We can stop him. Not through politics or diplomacy. Not through government intervention and war. But through prayer and belief. Do you truly believe that Yahweh is all powerful? Do you really believe that He can make anything happen? Do you believe that He can turn this Russian army against themselves and against their leader and go back home in shame? I do. I do. Yes, this mom of 9 and grandma of 5 believes in her heart that Yahweh has the power to do just that.
So I prayed through the night. And I'm going to keep praying with belief that Yahweh is going to step up and protect the people of Ukraine from this tyrant. That the people of Ukraine will be free of war and suppression.
I ask that you pray with me. And believe with me. Let no shadow of doubt enter your mind or heart. If Yahweh could use lowly Gideon to bring down the mighty Amalekites, He can certainly use us to bring down Putin.
Please share this with the believers that you know. Let's make a difference to the people of Ukraine.
Kathe