I Chronicles 14:11
‘So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim.’
After decades, David is the reigning king, as God has promised. I believe this is his first military test from a foreign power. The philistines had heard that he was king and sought to test him. Some of the philistine commanders may remember when David was running from Saul entered their land. They probably didn't think much of him, they sought to attack and defeat David.
This sounds like it was a confidence builder for David. He had decades of small things. After Goliath and David's military efforts for Saul, not much big happened for David. God opened a new chapter for him. David called it a break through.
We will all have times in our lives where we feel stuck or small. God knows and will deliver in His time. Usually they are deliverances that we see, but few others. We are very grateful. Praise rises in us.
This past week brought some drama in my life. After the third day of it, I was feeling confused and of little use. A student left a note as he was leaving that was up in the top ten of the nicest notes. This was God lifting my chin up to encourage me. It was completely random. I didn't feel like the lesson was special at all. It do recall being supportive of those stumbling, but it didn't feel any different than usual.
What's interesting about my present circumstance is that I sense it'll last a few more months. I know God is navigating the circumstances and will bring me through. What makes it difficult is that some around me disagree and are letting it be known.
God has brought break throughs before. Years ago I sensed my boss was done with me. Not so long after a friend who was my bosses boss shared a conversation. She mentioned to him that she and her family were camping with our family. He laughed nervously. She passed that on and asked if everything was ok. I generally explained it. God was showing me there that He was in control. Even though my boss was against me, God showed him to behave. That was a huge milestone for me. I always look back in wonder.
David called that place Baal-perazim. That means the master of breakthroughs. That's God. He builds our faith in the small things. David is where he is at because God had broken through in the small things. He had done it for the last twenty years. David knew Him as the God of break throughs. Every once in a while He does a big breakthrough.
On a human level we don't see a way out. Anxiety can build. He wants us to get our eyes off the circumstance and put it on Him. He is so much bigger than anything we may face.
I had a faith building experience a couple of weeks ago. I was petting my cat, rubbing his sides, feeling his ribcage. I had a thought, "All creatures that I know of that have a skeleton has a ribcage to protect the organs. That didn't evolve randomly. That's design." It makes the evolutionists seem foolish. How can one ignore that obvious evidence.
We have the master in charge of our lives. We don't have to worry. Our flesh is prone to worry and will do so. We need to sow to faith. Get our minds off our circumstances. It's not easy, but is the way.
Jesus shares a comforting message in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” Life is full of circumstances that will leave us weary and burdened. We are to trade our difficult yoke for Jesus' easy yoke. This is to trust Him and not to worry. Get our minds off our circumstances and on Him. Thank You that You are the God of the breakthroughs. You do the small ones and the big ones. Thank You for the easy yoke and the wonderful life.