BIBLICAL BATTLES
Abram vs Chedorlaomer
Chedorlaomer had no respect for people nor their possessions. He enslaved people to rule over them and sought gain from their demise. One day he enslaved Lot’s family, the relatives of Abram. This turned out to be a bad decision because Abram was a wise man who feared God and was willing to stand up for what was right. With just a few hundred soldiers Abram defeated Chedorlaomer. What type of reward did he deserve for beating the brute enemy? According to Abram’s words, found in verse 22, God was all the reward he needed. Abram even paid a tithe to because he knew the victory was of the Lord.
Talk about It
What type of reward do you expect for doing what is right? Have you considered giving to God?
Big Idea
Some do right just to get a reward,
Instead just do right to please the Lord.
Pharaoh vs Moses
After 430 years in Egypt, God sent Moses to Pharaoh with one simply decree, “Let my people go.” Instead of obeying God, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened because he refused to submit to the authority of God. Moses would appeal to Pharaoh and each time Pharaoh said, “No” God would send a devastating plague upon the land of Egypt. After the tenth and final plague, Pharaoh reluctantly let Israel free, but soon changed his mind and sent his armies to destroy Israel. At the Red Sea God spared those who followed Moses and completely destroyed the armies of Pharaoh. The hard heart of Pharaoh could not defeat the God of Moses.
Talk about it
What are the consequences of choosing to rebel against the Lord?
Big Idea
A harden heart will lead to ones fatality,
So with your heart choose the path of humility.
Joshua vs Amalek
The nation of Israel has had many enemies throughout the years who seek to utterly destroy the Jewish people. Amalek was one of those enemies. Some believe terrorist organizations like Hamas are descendants of Amalek proving true the words of Moses in verse 16. The enemy however, will never annihilate the Jewish people. God loves the Jewish people and will protect and deliver them according to His plan. If God can cause the Jewish people to be victorious over the enemy with the raising of Moses’ hands, then surely He is more than capable of preserving Israel today.
Talk about it
How was Moses able to keep his hands raised from the beginning of the battle to the setting of the sun?
Big Idea
We can all be a helping hand,
Fulfilling what the Lord has planned.
During their wondering in the wilderness, the nation of Israel was tempted to compromise with the enemy. Compromise can be a good thing when we work together for God’s glory. However, compromise can also be evil if it takes us away from serving the Lord alone. Israel chose to compromise with the evil Midianites and there was only one way to cut of the ties of an evil compromise. God called Israel to destroy the Midianites because of the sin of compromise. As long as we compromise with evil we will not be able to serve the Lord. God has called us to be a holy people separated unto Him.
Talk about it
What are some ways compromising with evil will prevent us from pleasing the Lord?
Bid Idea
If with evil we chose to compromise,
With the Lord we will not harmonize.
Gideon vs Midian
Would you rather go to war with an army of 32,000 soldiers or only 300 soldiers with God? Gideon and his army was put to this test when they went to war against the Midianites. First, God sent 22,000 soldiers home because they were afraid. Now Gideon’s army was only 10,000 soldiers and God said he still had too many. Another 9,700 soldiers were sent home, leaving Gideon with only 300 soldiers to fight against the mighty Midianites. This does not seem to be a fair fight! But with God on your side all things are possible. With only a trumpet, a pitcher, and a lamp in each of their hands God gave the victory to Gideon over the Midianites.
Talk about it
According to verse 2, why did God send so many soldiers home?
Big Idea
Little things become mighty
When placed in the hands of the Almighty
God promised to give the land to the people of Israel but as they entered the land their was the city of Jericho which had one big wall. How would God’s people defeat such a well fortified city? All they had to do was obey God and the massive walls would come tumbling down. Without raising a sword, God instructed His people to walk around the city of Jericho for seven days. That’s right! All they had to do was walk around the city and God was going to cause the walls to fall. Obeying God sometimes does not make much sense to man but if we would simply believe God and obey what He says even mighty walls will fall.
Talk about it
Out of all the people that lived in Jericho, why did God choose to save the family of Rahab?
Big Idea
Belief in God is a mighty offense,
Even when obeying God makes no sense.
After the great victory at Jericho the people of God soon experienced great defeat. Ai was a small town compared to Jericho. God’s people were confident in themselves that they could conquer this small town with very few soldiers. To their surprise, as they set out to conquer the small village without asking the Lord, they would soon walk away in utter defeat. Dismayed by the defeat, they finally turned to the Lord to inquire of Him why they could not conquer such a small town. The answer came in three words, “Israel hath sinned.” One man stole what God had forbidden ans as a result the entire army would not be victorious.
Talk about it
Why did Achan hide the stolen treasure in the earth under his tent?
Big Idea
Let him who stole
Steal no more.
God rose up the prophetess Deborah to be a mighty leader when there were very few men willing to fight for what is right. Barak, the captain of Israel’s army would only stand up for what was right if Deborah would go with him to battle. Sisera was the captain of Jabin’s evil army who were oppressing the people of God. As the battle raged on. As God was giving Israel the victory, Sisera ran away from the battle and ended up finding refuge in the tent of Jael who would kill him while he slept. God would give Israel the victory over the enemy this day and He would use girl power to accomplish His purpose of bringing glory to Himself.
Talk about it
How did Deborah respond to the victory the Lord wrought over Sisera? Judges 5
Big Idea
God used girl power for His glory,
Spike and hammer produced a scene quite gory.
Gideon vs Midian
Would you rather go to war with an army of 32,000 soldiers or only 300 soldiers with God? Gideon and his army was put to this test when they went to war against the Midianites. First, God sent 22,000 soldiers home because they were afraid. Now Gideon’s army was only 10,000 soldiers and God said he still had too many. Another 9,700 soldiers were sent home, leaving Gideon with only 300 soldiers to fight against the mighty Midianites. This does not seem to be a fair fight! But with God on your side all things are possible. With only a trumpet, a pitcher, and a lamp in each of their hands God gave the victory to Gideon over the Midianites.
Talk about it
According to verse 2, why did God send so many soldiers home?
Big Idea
Little things become mighty
When placed in the hands of the Almighty
David vs Goliath
One of the greatest battles in the Bible took place between a young shepherd boy and an almost ten foot tall giant. Goliath was a giant of the Philistines. He was a wicked man that mocked the people of God and blasphemed God. All the soldiers of Israel were afraid of Goliath and so instead of fighting they hid. When David, the young shepherd boy showed up at the battle field he heard the vile speech of the giant, saw the fear of the soldiers, and said, “Is there not a cause?” When all else hid in fear, David stood tall trusting God. With just a slingshot in his hand, the Lord gave David the victory over the giant.
Talk about it
Why was David willing to stand for God when all the soldiers where hiding in fear?
Big Idea
When faith takes a stand for what is right
Even great giants will lose the fight.
Saul vs Philistines
King Saul’s long walk away from God began with disobedience and a usurpation of authority God did not give to him. For years he had refused to listen to God, so when the warning came about going to battle against his life long enemies, the Philistines, he refused to listen. Not only did all of Saul’s son die in the battle, but Saul himself was shot through with arrows and had his armorbearer take his life. What is worse, the enemy took his body and armor and paraded it around as a show of victory over the God of Israel. Saul’s last act of prideful rebellion against God was to take his hopeless life away - how sad!
Talk about it
Because of Saul’s rebellion, name some other people whose lives were tragically affected?
Big Idea
When God’s warnings we will not heed
A tragic end it will lead.
David vs Hanun
Have you ever tried to do something kind just for someone to return your kind deed with evil. King David thought he would be kind to Hanun by sending his servants to help serve Hanun. In return Hanun took the servants and had only half their beards shaved. He then cut off half their robes. This action was not kind. It is never kind to humiliate people who are trying to do what is right. Hanun then hired an army to make war against Israel. His army was soundly defeated and the people of Hanun never troubled King David again. Just because we show kindness to people, that does not mean they will always be kind in return
Talk about it
When some one returns your kindness with evil, how do you think you should respond?
Big Idea
Don’t be ashamed to do what’s right
Even when someone is picking a fight.
Saul vs Agag
Agag was a wicked king over the Amalekites. God saw their wickedness and chose to judge them through the armies of king Saul and the Israelites. The command was to completely destroy everything of the Amalekites. Yet once king Saul noticed that he had won the victory, he disobeyed God by keeping some of the spoils, including sheep, and even spared the life of king Agag. The prophet Samuel heard the sheep and knew Saul did not completely obey. Saul thought he could use the spoil of war to worship God but what God only required was complete obedience. To obey God completely is better than false worship of God.
Talk about it
What was the consequence of Saul not completely obeying God?
Big Idea
When our obedience towards God is not complete
It causes the conscience bleating of the sheep.
Baal vs God
The battle was set. This battle was not going to be fought with swords and spears but with the power of prayer. Four hundred-fifty prophets of the false god Baal met Elijah, the prophet of the one true God, met on top of Mt. Carmel to see whose God would answer by fire consuming their altar of sacrifice. The prophets of Baal cried aloud all day long but their god was silent. Elijah then built his altar unto God and made it humanly impossible to start a fire upon. He humbly bowed his head in prayer and before he finished, God sent fire down from heaven completely consuming the sacrifice. The Lord, He alone is God, and nothing else.
Talk About It
What are some things Elijah did to make the altar humanly impossible to start a fire upon?
Big Idea
The God who hears our prayer,
Also answers for all to declare.
Benhadad vs Ahab
Both of these men were evil kings. Neither one of them worshiped the one true living God, yet Ahab the king of Israel found favor in the sight of the Lord. As Benhadad tried to fight against the armies of Israel twice, he ended up losing twice because he spoke evil against the one true Lord God. God caused Ahab and the army of Israel to win so that Ahab would know that the God of Israel is the one true Lord. He is God of every hill, He is the God of every valley, and He is the God of all the land in between. To this God we should listen, serve, and obey - a lesson king Ahab should have learned given the Lord caused him to prevail.
Talk about it
How did Ahab respond to the message of the prophet pronouncing judgment upon Ahab’s disobedience?
Big Idea
From the highest hill to the lowest valley
We should worship the one true Lord gladly.
Syria vs Elisha
Elisha was a mighty prophet of God. He was led of God, performed miracles from God, and spoke on behalf of God. For this, the king of Syria wanted to take Elisha captive so that he could not help Israel in battle. In the night, a massive Syrian army surrounded the town where Elisha was staying. The servant of Elisha saw the massive Syrian army and surely thought they were doomed. Elisha however, knew the power of God. While the Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, God had an invisible army ready to protect His chosen servant. In answer to prayer God blinded the Syrian army and then sent them astray.
Talk about it
What did Elisha’s servant see when the Lord opened his eyes?
Big Idea
Trust in God your hope to find
For He opens the eyes of the blind.
Jehoahaz vs Syria
Syria was a very cruel and oppressive nation. They ruled over the northern nation of Israel because Israel chose to sin against the one true God. It is as if God says, “You want a taste of what it is like to live under the oppression of false gods? Try being subservient to the Syrians.” Of course the nation of Israel did not like be ruled over by the Syrians so one day Jehoahaz, the king of Israel prayed to God asking for deliverance. God not only heard the prayer of this evil king but miraculously answered, giving Israel a savior. One would think that when the mercy of God is granted people would willingly follow the One true God. Even though Israel was delivered they refused to obey God.
Talk about it
Why was God so merciful towards sinful Israel?
Big Idea
Daily we are the recipients of God’s mercy,
Loving God should be our courtesy.
Hezekiah vs Rab-shakeh
Words can be very hurtful. Words can persuade a whole group of people to do something that is wrong in the sight of God. Words can create fear in the heart. Words can cause people to stop trusting in God. When Rab-shakeh and his army came out to battle against Jerusalem and king Hezekiah, he assaulted the people with words and insulted the one true living God. Good king Hezekiah responded to Rabshakeh with silence. He then used his words to pray to God asking for deliverance from this pestilent enemy. God not only heard his prayer but answered with His powerful Word giving Hezekiah the victory.
Talk about it
According to 2 Kings 19:6, why did Hezikiah not need to fear the words of Rab-shakeh?
Big Idea
When men have foolish words to say
Use your word to seek God and pray
Necho vs Josiah
Josiah was a very good king in the last days of the southern kingdom of Judah. He made many good reforms throughout the land and during his day there was a revival of the Word of God. Nonetheless, Josiah’s life had an unfortunate end because he chose to meddle in a conflict that the Lord did not want him to be involved with. Necho, the king of Egypt, was at war with Syria. Instead of letting these two nations settle their differences, king Josiah went to fight against Necho. Before Josiah could even draw his sword and archer of Egypt slew him with an arrow. What a tragic end to the life of a good king.
Talk about it
How did Jeremiah the prophet and the people of Judah respond to the death of their king?
Big Idea
Meddling into another’s affairs,
Makes you a fool full of despair.
Jeroboam vs Abijah
Jereboam was the king of the northern ten tribes of Israel and Abijah was the king over the southern kingdom of Judah. Jereboam led the ten northern tribes to rebel against God. Instead of serving the Lord, they made idols to be their false gods. This did not make God happy and ultimately God would strike Jeroboam dead because of this great sin. There is only one God and Abijah led the southern kingdom to believe and follow Him. The north and the south prepared their armies to fight but only the kingdom who feared God would prevail. God allowed Abijah to win because he relied upon the Lord.
Talk about it
What weapon did the southern kingdom use to cause the armies of the northern kingdom to run away?
Big Idea
There is not battle we cannot survive,
When upon the Lord alone we choose to rely.
Jehoshaphat vs Ammon and Moab
For centuries Ammon and Moab, the sons of Lot, grew into small nations that did not fear the Lord nor have any use for the nation of Israel. Throughout their history they always tried to take advantage of God’s people and often would conspire to stab them in the back. Against good king Jehoshaphat they would try to destroy the Israelites once again but the good king knew whom he could rely on to protect against the enemy cause the people of God to prevail. He feared the Lord, cried out to the Lord, set his eyes upon the Lord, and trusted the Lord for the victory. Before Israel even swung their sword the enemy was destroyed.
Talk about it
How were the armies of the enemy destroyed without Israel even swinging a sword? 20:23-24
Big Idea
With our eyes upon the Lord for victory,
The enemy begins to look itty-bitty.
Jerusalem vs Babylon
Lamentation means an expression of weeping or sorrow, making the book of Lamentations one of the saddest books in the Bible. Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote Lamentations because he saw the city of Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians. This historical event took place in 586 BC. The fall of Jerusalem is sad because it is capital city of Israel. God loves Jerusalem and wanted only what was good for people of Israel. Their sins became so grievous that God was left with no other option but to allow Babylon, the enemy, to conquer the chief of cities. Sin left to fester will ultimately produce sorrow.
Talk about it
How does God describe the sins of Israel in Lamentations 1:7-8?
Big Idea
Sin sown will reap tomorrow,
A heart full of sorrow.
Belshazzar vs Darius
Babylon had risen to be the most powerful nation in all of the world. Belshazzar was their king but he was a very prideful king who lifted himself up against the one true Lord. He worshiped many gods made out of gold, silver, wood, and stone. Pride led him to believe he could not be conquered. That all changed one night when God gave him a message through mysterious handwriting on a wall. The message declared the king to be guilty before God and warned of his soon defeat by the Medes and the Persians. Just as God said, that night Belshazzar was slain and Darius the Median became the new king.
Talk about it
What were some actions of Belshazzar that were not pleasing unto the Lord?
Big Idea
Pride comes before a fall so they say
All pride will be humbled in one day.
Michael vs Satan
These verse give us a glimpse into the unseen spiritual warfare that takes place between the angelic forces for good against the evil demonic operatives of the devil. Michael is an archangel often seen fighting for and protecting the nation of Israel. Satan, who is the leader of the fallen angels, leads his army to fight against anything that is good and righteous. The good news is that Satan is a looser and he will not prevail in his attempt to conquer the forces of God nor will he prevail in his attempt to rule the world. Just as he cannot defeat Michael, he is powerless in his vain attempt to defeat the people of God on the earth.
Talk about it
How are people upon earth going to be victorious against the powerful deception of the devil?
Big Idea
Satan knows his time is short,
Jesus alone is the believers fort.
Gog vs God
When Israel is dwelling safely in the land, the prophet Ezekiel said that many nations will come against Israel led by the prince of Magog called Gog. Magog is the Biblical name for modern day Russia. The nations listed in his evil axis are all today Islamic. They will be so filled with hatred against the nation of Israel that they will seek to utterly wipe Israel off the map. As the wicked armies of Gog surround the tiny Jewish state of Israel, God’s righteous fury will be unleash. God loves the Jewish people and will fight for Israel causing the armies of Gog to fall upon the mountains of Israel. God will be magnified over the wicked ways of men.
Talk about it
Can you identify some of the nations listed along with modern day Russia?
Big Idea
Gog of Magog will surely fall,
The name of the Lord to be magnified above all.
Jesus vs Antichrist
Before Jesus returns one of the most evil men to ever walk the earth will deceive the world to follow him. In the Revelation he is called the Beast. We know him as the Antichrist because everything he does is against the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people will be so deceived they will even worship the Antichrist as their god. He will summons all the armies of the world to the Valley of Megiddo to fight against Christ. His reign however will be short lived as Jesus returns to judge and make war. In an instant the armies are destroyed and the Beast and his false prophet are cast alive into the Lake of Fire. Jesus will be victorious.
Talk about it
Describe what Jesus will look like when he returns to this earth as king?
Big Idea
There is room for only one upon the throne,
Reserved for Jesus Christ and for Him alone.
