Tues.’s Devo - The Lord is Victorious

Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11
God had promised Israel that he would go before them and defeat their enemies. The first enemy to come against them were the Canaanites. They took some of the Israelites prisoner. God helped them completely destroy their cities and defeated them.
After their great victory, the Israelites got impatient and complained about the manna. God sent deadly snakes to bite them and many died. When the people repented, God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on the pole. If they looked upon it, the people that had been bitten would live. The curse became the blessing. Jesus became the curse that was lifted up on a cross that when we behold him, we will be saved from our sin.
The next enemy they met was Sihon, king of the Amorites. Israel had asked if they could just travel through their land and Sihon said, No. He gathered his whole army to come fight Israel. They had defeated the Ammonites and the Moabites to take their land. God helped them defeat them which made the surrounding people afraid. Og, king of Bashan was so afraid of the Israelites he decided to hire the soothsayer, Balaam to curse them. Every spirit is subject to God so first Balaam had to ask God. God told him he couldn’t curse the Israelites because God had blessed them. The king of Og kept pestering Balaam and offering him a bigger and bigger purse. We will learn tomorrow what happens.
In Luke, Elizabeth was in her sixth month. Six months from the day of Atonement brings us to Passover. Mary was visited by an angel and told that she would have a baby. Elizabeth was too old and Mary was too young - in that she wasn’t even married. Both would be miracles by the hand of God. Mary believed and totally surrendered herself to God’s will. Elizabeth praised for this, remembering what had happened to her husband for not believing. Mary and Elizabeth had a praise meeting then Mary stayed there for another 3 months. She must have left right before Elizabeth delivered.
Our Psalm was written by David when he was in the cave fleeing for his life from Saul. Sometimes I feel like I am hiding out, fleeing from Satan but I want to be fearless and stand my ground. David found his footing in the Lord.
Lord, we pray with David, Our heart is steadfast, awaken our souls to praise You.