Ps.68:1 – Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.
The children of Israel were not a threat to the other more established nations when they left their slavery in Egypt to go to the land that God had promised to Abraham. The surrounding nations were established with armies and cities protected by walls. They wouldn’t give another thought to those nomads until the rumors started. They heard about the Red Sea being parted as the cloud led the people of Israel. They heard of how Pharaoh and the most powerful army on earth was destroyed in a moment of time. They heard about the supernatural provision of God for a million people and how it was all related to this mysterious cloud. Reports were given of how the Israelis would camp for days and a command would be given, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered;”
And the cloud would lift and the people would follow the cloud. Here is how Spurgeon describes this.
“Before we move, we should always desire to see the Lord lead the way. The words suppose the Lord to have been passive for awhile, suffering his enemies to rage, but restraining his power. Israel beseeches him to arise…We, also, may thus importunately cry unto the Lord, that he would be pleased to make bare his arm, and plead his own cause. Let his enemies be scattered. Our glorious Captain of the vanguard clears the way readily, however many may seek to obstruct it; he has but to arise, and they flee, he has easily over thrown his foes in days of yore, and will do so all through the ages to come. Sin, death, and hell know the terror of his arm; their ranks are broken at his approach. Our enemies are his enemies, and in this is our confidence of victory. Let them also that hate him flee before him. To hate the infinitely good God is infamous, and the worst punishment is not too severe. Hatred of God is impotent. His proudest foes can do him no injury. Alarmed beyond measure, they shall flee before it comes to blows. Long before the army of Israel can come into the fray, the haters of God shall flee before HIM who is the champion of his chosen. He comes, he sees, he conquers.”
So Israel’s secret was not the wisdom of Moses or the strength of their army, their power was connected to this strange cloud. The fear of God began to spread among the nations as Israel defeated and thwarted one attack after the next. Their conquest of the land was inevitable and many victories were won without a battle. This carries a great message for us today. We cannot depend on human talent or resources for our battles, our victory comes from the Lord. All we can say is, “Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered”.
