Three things we Christians must dedicate
“They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him” (1 Chronicles 5:20).
First, we Christians must dedicate ourselves to be skillful with the Word of God.
Look at 1 Chronicles 5:18 – “The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, consisting of valiant men, men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow and were skillful in battle, were 44,760, who went to war.” The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh asked Moses and the priest Eleazar, and the leaders of the community to give them the lands of Jazel and the land of Gilead for their possession (Num. 32:1-5). And they asked them “Do not make us cross the Jordan” (v. 5). The reason was because the lands of Jazer were suitable for their livestock and they had very large herds and flocks (vv. 1. 4). Then Moses said to them: “"Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them?” (vv. 6-7) Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh told Moses that “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. But we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. … We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance” (vv. 16-18). And they kept that promise. They had not deserted their brothers but have carried out the mission the Lord their God gave you (Josh. 22:3). The Bible says that the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who held that responsibility, were “s” valiant men (1 Chron. 5:18). And they were skillful in battle, “men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow” (v. 18).
We too should be skillful in spiritual battle. We, who are the soldiers of Jesus Christ, must be skillful to spiritual warfare. In particular, we must be spiritual warriors who are good at handling the sword of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. We need to know how to skillfully use the Word of God in our spiritual battle against ourselves, sins, the world, Satan, and death. We Christians must dedicate ourselves to be skillful with the Word of God.
Second, we Christians must dedicate ourselves to trust in God and cry out to Him.
Look at 1 Chronicles 5:20 – “They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.” The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh fought against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab (v. 19). Meanwhile, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh trusted in God and cried out to Him (v. 20). God who heard their cry answered them and helped them (v. 20). As a result, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh won the war (vv. 21-22).
In order to win spiritual battle, we must be accustomed not only to the Word of God but also to pray to God. In other words, we must be accustomed to cry out to God. As much as that, we should be people who trust in God. In other words, we must be those who trust in and trust in God (Ps. 22:4). We must cry out to God because we trust in Him. Then God will hear us (77:1) and surely hears our cry (Exod. 22:23). And God will answer us (Ps. 3:4, 86:7, 120:1). God will give us victory (1 Cor. 15:57).
Third and last, we Christians must dedicate ourselves to keep our hearts well after we receive grace.
Look at 1 Chronicles 5:25 – “But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.” After the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh won the battle against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab (v. 19), they settled in their land (v. 22). The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land from Bashan to Baal-Hermon, Senir and Mount Hermon and they were numerous (v. 23). “These were the heads of their fathers' households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' households” (v. 24). But after they won the war, became numerous, and gained fame, they sinned against God (v. 25). They acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them (v. 25). As a result, God raised the king of Assyria to invade the land where the Reubenites, the Gadities, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were living and let them carry the Israelites away into exile to Assyria (v. 26).
We must be careful after winning the spiritual battle. We must be careful after receiving grace. We need to be careful after we have grown and enriched. We should keep our hearts well so that we will not be tempted after receiving God’s grace. Otherwise we will fall into Satan's temptation and sin against God. We will not be truthful to God and will serve the idols of this world. As a result, we will be disciplined by God.