Defeated Before the Battle

Ezekiel 3:7-9 - “7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house."

I want to begin this devotion with an illustration.

Many years ago, Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, fought a brilliant series of battles against Napoleon’s French forces that eventually culminated in the final defeat of the emperor at Waterloo. Wellington was sometimes outnumbered and was frequently forced to fight with allies who were more hindrance than help. Yet Wellington, never lost a battle. Before one crucial conflict in Spain, Wellington told one of his soldiers, “Though they may overwhelm me, I don’t think they will out-maneuver me. First, because I am not afraid of them , as everyone seems to be, and secondly, because, if all I hear about their system is true, I think it a false one against steady troops. I suspect all the Continental armies are half-beaten before the battle begins. I at least will not be frightened beforehand.”

Fellow leaders and beloved brethren, if we go into our spiritual battles frightened by the opposition and the enemy we face, we are partly defeated from the start. Instead, we must recognize that God is in control, and that He has already defeated all the enemies we face. When God ordered Ezekiel to deliver His message to the people, He told the prophet in advance that they would not listen. Success for Ezekiel was not found in the number who heeded His message, but in his faithfulness to deliver it. 

God warned Ezekiel not to be afraid of them, no matter how they responded, because fear would tempt the prophet to be silent rather than boldly proclaiming God’s truth. People may criticize and condemn us for preaching the Gospel, for speaking the truth, for our condemnation of sin, but we must remain confident, not in the results but in God’s control. We can be confident in every opportunity, in every spiritual battle and in every soul-winning opportunity, not in our ability or in our own strength, but in the victory God has already won.

Our Prayer for Prayer:

Almighty Father, help us today to always remember your promise. Help us to always claim the victory that You have already won. In Jesus’ name, Amen!