quill

Some of you were able to view the spectacular blood moon on Friday 27th July in the evening, and alongside it, the planet Mars, which was closer to earth than any of us have ever seen in our lifetime. Lunar eclipses are signs in the sky for the nation of Israel and, coupled with the close proximity of Mars, speak of war coming for Israel. However, seeing as we are children of Abraham by faith, I wondered if there was more being spoken by this sign with regards to the children of God. When pondering and praying about this, I was prompted to check the date on the Hebrew calendar when this eclipse occurred. It happened to take place in the second watch of the night on Av 16th, in other words, the early hours of this day mark the beginning of a new season of war both for Israel and the Church of Jesus Christ.

It is also the anniversary of a whole new season for the ancient Israelites as, on the day before (Av 15th 2487), they stood at the Brook Zered, having come to the end of God’s assignment in the wilderness designed to remove the men of war from their midst:

Deu 2:13  Now rise up and go over the brook Zered. So we went over the brook Zered. Deu 2:14  And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we had come over the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the whole generation of the men of war had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. Deu 2:15  Moreover the hand of the Lord was against them to exterminate them from the midst of the camp, until they were all gone.

It had taken 38 years for the Lord to complete this sifting and removal amongst His people. Their starting point had been Kadesh-Barnea, which means ‘wilderness of wandering’ and finally, as they stood before this small stream of water called Zered, the ruthless purging had been completed. It is the same for the Bridal company. The going round and round the same mountain had served the purpose of allowing enough time to pass until every man with experience of battle had fallen to the ground. Every person who may have been tempted to lean on his natural understanding and experience when facing war in rest of the journey to the Promised Land had been removed from the company, and there remains only those who are described as ‘ready for war’, but without any actual experience. In what way were they ready for war? They had not been trained or put through their paces or taught to use weapons. But they had grown to maturity and learned to lean and trust completely in God. They had never experienced any other form of provision or guidance and they did not have a slave mentality. They had no personal memory of the ways of Egypt and total dependence on God and surrender to His Lordship.

This company that now stands at the Brook Zered have experienced loss and separation from family members and friends, having been fed supernaturally by the hand of God and having had their hearts tested and tried during the past 38 years, and now it is time to rise up and cross over into a new season, through territory they have never seen before. It has been a brutal journey; a long season of proving, but now the time of wandering in the wilderness is over. It has been dry and hot and hard on body and soul, but the brook Zered marks the end of that season and the beginning of another very different season. ‘Zered’ means ‘exuberant growth’. You may have felt much reduced and barren in the wilderness wandering season but now you are crossing the boundary into a season of exuberant growth and fruitfulness. The number 38 is the gematria for ‘His glory’ and ‘His heart’ and ‘He shall shew’. You may have endured suffering in the wilderness chapter, but now the time of His glory is coming. You have experienced breakings in the long proving years but now you have had His heart forged within you. And that is extremely important – because you are entering a time of war for the children of God, and these coming wars must not be fought leaning on the strength of man or the wisdom and experience of man. Every step taken in the journey ahead must be under the guidance of the Spirit of God.

And yes, there are battles (and even war with giants) ahead, but what the Holy Spirit stressed to me is that we are to go forward in the same pattern as our ancient Israelite counterparts. Very specific instruction was given them for their journey forward. They were not to just rush ahead willy-nilly attacking any city or stronghold they came across. On the contrary, God had specific battles for them to fight and specific land for them to take possession of. If you read through Deut 2, you will discover that God was very clear concerning which battles they were to engage in and which areas were to be passed through without picking a fight. Certain kings could be engaged and conquered and others were to be avoided. Some territory was allotted to others and certain places, kings and strongholds were to be overthrown and possessed.

So, what is the Lord saying to us about the journey ahead, marked by the super blood moon with Mars in close proximity?

  1. The Spirit is calling for clear focus and obedience.

  2. His instruction will give precision of vision and marked boundaries to function and move within.

  3. There are God-appointed battles ahead. Do not lean on your own understanding and be drawn into war that you are not anointed or appointed to wage.

  4. Not all the territory you pass through in the coming days is yours to possess. You are only appointed victory in territory that God wants to give you.

  5. Even in territory appointed for your possession, you will get opposition. Resistance is not a sign you are on the wrong path ( Deut 2:30).

  6. If the territory is appointed the people of God, victory is certain. God will give it into your hand.

  7. The possessing of the land is a process, not an overnight miracle. God is beginning to give you the land appointed (Deut 2:31).

  8. Your victory begins at the threshing floor of your enemy (Deut 2:32 Jahaz means ‘threshing floor’)

  9. Even after you have obtained victory and taken possession of enemy territory, do not be tempted to transgress the boundaries of war that God has set for you (Deut 2:37).

  10. The strongholds and land being conquered and possessed at this time is not necessarily for you personally. Remember these battles were fought by all the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan and then the cities conquered were allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh (Deut 3:12-17). The rest of the tribes of Israel were allotted portions in the Promised Land.

  11. Even if it is territory God has appointed you personally, you are still required to accompany your brethren across the Jordan and help them to take possession of what is appointed them, before returning to your allotted portion. The season ahead is about corporate welfare, not self-centeredness - Deu 3:20 Until the Lord has given rest to your brethren as to you, and until they also possess the land which the Lord your God has given them beyond the Jordan. Then shall you return every man to the possession which I have given you.

  12. The victories given in this time before crossing into the Promised Land are firstly to demonstrate to you that God is fighting for you and you need never fear the  giants  or any kingdom stronghold in the Promised Land (Deut 3:21,22).

  13. The battles you win in the coming days will also serve notice on every enemy who presently occupies your portion of the Promised Land, that God is fighting for you and they must flee (Deut 31;4, Josh 2:10). News of the coming victories will terrify the enemy camp long before you get there to fight the battle for the land!

  14. Your wilderness journey started with God delivering you from your enemies and it ends on a note of victory too. Two kings, Sihon and Og, were given into the hand of the people of God – two victories, a sign of the double recompense that awaits you.

  15. Yes, there is a giant (Og) standing between you and the Promised Land of your inheritance and to the natural eye it looks like you cannot possibly reach it, but God is going to give him into your hand. Yes, he may come out against you and attempt to stop you passing through, but there is not one bit of territory he resides over that you will not take from him (Deut 3:3,4)! The Brook Zered marks both the end of trial, testing, shaping and a sharing of Christ’s sufferings. It also announces the beginning of a time of overflowing victory and experiencing the glory of God in your life. Yes, you will encounter war – but God is fighting for you and you will win! Go forward confident in the omnipotence of your God.

Selah