It is hard for human beings to imagine anything or anyone more powerful than ourselves. We live in our own self-contained world. It is our hubris that destroys us. It is our achilles heal. Though what we lust for and what we crave hold great sway over us, it is our boasting pride of life that carries us over the falls. (1 John 2:16)
In the history of the world, as well as the Jewish nation, three central powers or “gods” have assailed all of humanity. Baal (he has many other names) is the one who possesses. He is incredibly adaptable. Whether we live in 3000 BC or 2023 AD, it is in our nature to attach ourselves to our own/or the gods of others. This is why God’s first commandment to His people says “you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3).
The second is Ashtaroth or Ishtar. This is a he/she god. She is a warrior and a seductress (look throughout history). She lives and breathes immorality and the control that comes from sexual impurity. She is behind the confusing of gender and the destruction of home, marriage, and family. She has been a warrior here for centuries.
The third is Molech or Moloch. He is the god of child sacrifice. His stain can be found in many of the nations of antiquity, where he seduces even parents to offer up their children as sacrifices – and made to “pass through fire” (Jeremiah 32:35; Ezekiel 16:21). He is behind all child sacrifice since the dawn of time and through the present day.
Some perspective:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12
There are many enemies of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, and each one seeks to spit in His face through wreaking havoc in His intent for humanity. The adversary leads these gods in war against Father-Creator – and is sure he will be victorious.
God’s take on this:
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39
It is all too easy to minimize the war going on ar ound us, and to be sucked in as pawns for the adversary and his purposes. We (for two) are made in the image of God for the purposes of God – and we repent of our service to the evil one and extoll the pure virtue of the Living God. Selah!
Dave and Burnadette
Related links:
Warfare Conversations
Music: Difficult Days