Name Your Enemy

From Get Your Spirit Back by Earl McClellan on YouVersion

Judges 6:1-10 ESV
The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel and no sheep or ox or donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents; they would come like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted—so that they laid waste the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord. When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”

Judges 6:1 says, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” That’s a bit hard to relate to. Many of us look at our own lives and don’t think we’re doing anything evil. But doing evil in the eyes of the Lord in this context has to do with forgetting not only God but the paths that He laid out for us to live.

Our ultimate purpose is to make God’s name great and establish His love, His grace, His rule, His authority, and His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. But we fall short. We have a lot in common with the Israelites in that way. God is about to break the cycle for them. But first, Judges tells us that “for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 6:1). The Israelites had to hide in caves to escape their enemies. To feed themselves, they planted their crops in secret, but the Midianites still stole their harvest.

Like the Israelites, are you struggling to find your way back to life? How many years or months has it been since you’ve not had freedom of movement in your mind, your words, or your purpose? How long has it been since you harvested what you planted?

Let’s go a half step further. Who are your Midianites? Perhaps your own self-talk? Your family members, your friend circle, or your co-workers?

Judges 6:6 tells us: “Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.” Take some time now and ask the Lord for help. It doesn’t have to be eloquent. Just like a child speaking to their mom or dad, let your loving Father know you want help.

The God of the Israelites is your God today. And by the grace of God, you’re going to get your spirit back! You’re going to get your fight back. You’re going to break the cycle you’re in. All of that is going to happen through turning to God for help.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” We’re not aiming for a temporary reprieve. We’re after breakthrough.

What is it that has been crushing your spirit? How has this affected your life? Are you ready to get your spirit back?