GLEANINGS — June 30, A.D. 2013                                                                                                             
 "The LORD's Army"

Roots: The Saga of an American Family* dramatized the story of  a teenager taken into slavery, whose descendants eventually gained their freedom through many hardships and trials. The Roots character Kunta Kinte might be compared to Abraham! You who are members of the Church catholic (universal), made up of people of every skin color and from every tribe, tongue, and nation, consider this passage:

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him." (Isaiah 51:1,2)

As we for whom the instruction of the older covenant Scriptures was given (Romans 15:4) look back on the lives of Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants whose experiences are intended to be our examples (1 Corinthians 10:6), we discover our own ROOTS.

Reading the infallibly trustworthy, sacred (Biblical) history of our spiritual forebears, brought out of that fiery furnace called Egypt by God's mighty hand and outstretched arm, what do we see? We see a divinely upheld army! Though Moses and Joshua are doughty lieutenants, ultimately that army is led by the Captain of the hosts of the LORD Himself, and is going forth to conquer...to bring down the walls of Jericho and other ancient cities for the glory of God and the advance of His kingdom.

Our Lord Jesus pictures His new covenant people as an army on the offensive, and proclaims (Matthew 16:18) that the defensive gates of Hades will not stand against it, anymore than the cities ruled by kings Sihon and Og, or Jericho itself stood against Israel. Territories filled with numerous people of gigantic stature could not withstand a nation of recently freed slaves. Nor can the godless "giants" and multitudinous enemies under siege by God's army today withstand it. In our weakness we are strong with His strength. The battle is the LORD's (1 Samuel 17:47, 2 Chronicles 20:15).

For this reason our ancient brothers and sisters in city of Ephesus were exhorted just as we are exhorted: "Put on the whole armor of God." As the apostle goes on to write (Ephesians 6), "...for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Therefore as brave soldiers in the Lord's army, we don't lose heart like those Israelites who wanted to go back to Egypt. We don't take a defeatist attitude, cowering before the adversary and his servants. Rather, we remember another passage which underscores who we are. We are the heirs of those heroes of faith "...who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:33ff).

And we wisely consider that "...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:4,5) 

Yes, it is the saints of old who are our spiritual ancestors. We living stones are cut out from the same quarry as them. As Christians we find in them our real ROOTS. May we the church militant bear the appropriate fruit, and go forth under His banner and in His strength...to conquer!

* After the 1976 publication of this work, the author was successfully prosecuted for plagiarism.