(Read 1 Samuel 30:9-19)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” After having heard from God and with the confidence that God’s Word would come true — that they would recover all — David and his 600 men set out on their rescue-and-recover mission. The men had been on an emotional roller coaster. First they cried until they ran out of tears, then they felt anger towards David and wanted to stone him, and then they had to get their expectation and courage up for the mission. This all took a toll on some of the men and 200 of them were exhausted by the time they arrived at the Besor brook. The 200 were too drained to make it across the water. David was not going to waste any time, so he continued on with 400 of his men.
‘It just so happened’ that as David and his men went along, not really sure how they were going to find the Amalekites, that they stumbled upon an Egyptian man stranded in a field. I personally believe this was an act of God’s grace. The group gave the man bread to eat and water to drink. They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for three days. After his strength returned David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” The man replied, “I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag.” This was exactly what David needed. David asked, “Will you lead me to this band of raiders?” David asked. The young Egyptian replied, “If you take an oath in God’s name that you will not kill me or give me back to my master, then I will guide you to them.” David agreed and the mission continued.
The young Egyptian led David and his men to the Amalekites. They were spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. It was evening, but David wasted no time. David and his men rushed into the enemy’s camp and fought them all night and the entire next day until evening. After the 24 hour battle the only Amalekites who escaped were 400 young men who fled on camels. David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. The Bible says, “Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God always makes His Word good. The Bible says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Num 23:19). If God said it, He will do it. If God promised it, He will ensure it comes to pass. God told David he would recover all and David recovered all, just like God said! The same will happen for you!
2. God will give you grace along the way. When David needed help finding the Amalekites, he ‘just so happened’ to stumble upon an Egyptian who could lead them to the enemy’s camp. Likewise with you, God will not just give you the grace to succeed when you get there, but He will also give you grace along the way. When you seem to hit a stumbling block, trust God, He will give you the grace and help you need along your life’s journey.
3. Everything won’t come to you on a silver platter. I believe sometimes people expect God to just hand them everything, as if all their blessings are going to fall out of heaven. Victories in Christ are sweatless, but they are not effortless. You are going to have to put in your part. There are times when you are going to have to fight the enemy to get out of the mess you got yourself into. But don’t worry, God will give you the grace to fight… and win!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for always standing behind Your Word. Men can make me a promise without ever intending to fulfill it. And then again, men can make me a promise with every intention of fulfilling it, but then still don’t because they are men and therefore flawed. Men are prone to making mistakes. However, You are not a man that you should lie, neither are you the son of man that you should change Your mind. You have never spoken and then failed to act. You have never promised and then not made it good. As soon as You speak something to me it is as good as done. In my realm it is going to happen, but in your realm it has already happened. Therefore, I trust every Word You speak to me as already done by faith, and I pursue the manifestation of it in the earth realm. When I receive a Word from You, that Word becomes my focal point and I pursue the manifestation of it with all my might. You give me the grace to do my part to see that Word come to pass in the earth. You give me grace to see it with my spiritual eyes and to keep the vision before me, You give me grace to do my part to bring it to pass, and You give me grace along the way, sending people to help me complete Your Kingdom plans and purposes. Thank You Father for your grace. I will pursue Your best every day of my life. Your victories will come sweatless, but I do realize they will not always be effortless. I am ready to fight if I need to fight. I am ready to stand if I need to stand. I am ready to fast if I need to fast. Whatever I need to do, to bring to pass Your will in my life, I am ready to do it, because You have given me the grace for it. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
