“Listen! The armies of many nations roar like the roaring of the sea. Hear the thunder of the mighty forces as they rush forward like thundering waves. But though they thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind, like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm. In the evening, Israel waits in terror, but by dawn, its enemies are dead. This is the just reward of those who plunder us, a fitting end for those who destroy us.”
Isaiah 17:12-14 NLT
Do these verses sound familiar this morning? There seems to be so many “roaring armies” around the world. Closest to home here in the UK is the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. But further afield, we have the wars in the Middle East, most notably between the US and Iran. Sudan has experienced internal conflict for many years. Even further away, there are “wars” in parts of Latin America and Myanmar. I suppose the difference today is that there are no two armies facing each other; instead, there are more technological wars, particularly in the use of unmanned devices such as drones. But there is certainly much “roaring” going on, with belligerent leaders and politicians shouting at each other.
In Biblical days, the armies did face each other, and success on the battlefield was then followed by the subjugation of the losing nation. There was a famous battle in 1 Samuel 17, and we read, “The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them”. We know the rest of that story, involving as it did Goliath and David.
But in our verses today from Isaiah 17, we read, “But though [the armies] thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away”. Then, as now, amid all the noise from armies and politicians, when God speaks, the belligerent disappear. Psalm 2 commences, “Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one”. Today, there may not be the same religious reasoning behind the wars fought. In most, if not all, cases today, it is one evil nation or faction fighting against another of the same persuasion. In the UK, there is much political chatter about the size of the defence budget and how to fund an increase. Our wayward and Godless politicians have missed the obvious solution: if the whole nation turned to God, we would experience His protection from our enemies, real or imagined, without spending money to achieve the same aim in our own strength. Sadly, it seems that such a solution is decreasing almost by the day in our increasingly secular nation. But is that an unrealistic expectation? It probably is, but then we think about Ephesians 3:20, where we read what can be achieved through God’s power within us.
In all the roaring, though, one fact, one truth, shines out like a beacon – God is still sovereign. He is still sitting on His throne, and taking an active interest in what is going on in the world today. We pilgrims turn to Psalm 46 and read, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. … The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1-2, 6-7). We remember the time when Jesus was sleeping in a boat caught up in the middle of a storm. In all the roaring of the waves and wind, he spoke, as we read in Mark 4:39-40, “When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”” The God who can silence the waves and wind can also silence the roaring of the nations. God, through His righteousness, will prevail over the forces of evil. Revelation 17:14, “Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all Lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him”.
One last thought from Isaiah 17, and this time in the last verse. We read, “In the evening Israel waits in terror, but by dawn its enemies are dead”. Many believers know what it is to go to bed anxious and wake to discover that God has already been at work. Sometimes God’s greatest victories happen while His people are resting. Psalm 30:5, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning”. Then we have Psalm 121:4-5, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade”.
We pilgrims worship and follow a God of love, grace and righteousness. We are His children, and when we hear the roaring of evil in our ears and see the impact on our screens, we remember that God is still in control. Yesterday, today, and forever. We know how history will end, but in the meantime, with the Psalmist, we say, “The Lord keeps watch over [us] as [we] come and go, both now and forever”.
Dear Lord. Thank You for Your love and grace. Whenever we hear the roaring of Your enemies, we remember that You are our refuge and strength, as we continue our life journey day by day. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 