As we navigate through life, we often face trials, challenges, and setbacks that we as believers overcome because of our relationship with YAHWEH (1 John 5:4). We were made overcomers through the love and grace of YAHWEH. However, being victorious over this world comes with the unexpected problem of acquiring enemies (haters). Formidable enemies, including the Devil Satan, observe our successes and actions with a sense of unease and trepidation, knowing full well the extent of our power in Yahshua. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep in mind that these enemies seek to hinder or impede our progress. At the same time, others go to great lengths to derail us by inflicting as much damage as possible, whether spiritually, psychologically, or physically. 

Why Your Enemies Attack

Our enemies attack us out of deep-seated fear and hatred of our strength, resilience, and connection to YAHWEH. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “our conflict is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities, and with those in authority, and with the possessors of this dark world, and with the evil spirits that are beneath heaven.” Therefore, we must recognize that our human (flesh and blood) enemies are influenced and sometimes controlled by Satan, the possessor of this dark world, prompting them to launch attacks against us.

King Adoni-Zedek Watches Yahshar’el Victories and Plots

1. And it happened, when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai, and had destroyed it (as he had done to Jericho and to its king, so he had done to Ai and to her king) and that the ones living in Gibeon had made peace with Yahshar’el, and were in their midst,

2. they were greatly afraid because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 

3. And Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 

4. Come up to me and help me. And we shall strike Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua, and with the sons of Yahshar’el. 

5. And the five kings of the Amorites assembled, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, they and all their camps. And they camped against Gibeon, and fought against it.

Joshua 10:1-5 (HRB)

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In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.

Yahshar’el had successfully defeated two powerful nations, Jericho and Ai, one after another, and enslaved a third nation, Gibeon. As news of these triumphant victories quickly spread, King Adoni-Zedek, an enemy of Yahshar’el, became filled with fear and apprehension. However, instead of retreating or surrendering in peace like Gibeon, the king schemed and plotted to bring Yahshar’el down, much like Satan and other adversaries do. Despite his apparent fear, King Adoni-Zedek refused to back down in the face of his powerful foe, showing his unwavering determination as an enemy.

While it may seem logical to assume that instilling fear in one’s enemies will cause them to disperse and retreat, this is not always the case. In reality, those who oppose you (Satan and Enemies) tend to become more cunning and strategic when faced with fear. Rather than accepting defeat, they began plotting and scheming their next moves and conspiring against you, intending to launch their most aggressive attacks. Their ultimate goal may be to bring you down or even eliminate you completely.

What Are Your Enemies Fearful Of:

(Satan)

• Fearful that you are done with sin – James 4:7
• Fearful that you have fully committed to YAHWEH
• Fearful that you won’t turn back to him
• Fearful that you will read your Bible and learn the whole truth
• Fearful of your constant and consistent prayers
• Fearful that you will follow Yahshua no matter what till the end – Matthew 24:13

(People)

• Fearful that you are or will be better than them
• Fearful that you will get the available promotion
• Fearful and angry that you are improving and they aren’t
• Fearful that you will realize they are not your friend but a pretender (enemy)
• Fearful of the favor of YAHWEH upon your life

King Adoni-Zedek Plot Against Yahshar’el

King Adoni-Zedek devised a cunning scheme to assemble and mobilize the neighboring kingdoms and wage war against Yahshar’el. His plan succeeded as four other kings (listed in vs.5) were persuaded to join him in his mission. The coalition of kings decided to focus their aggression on Gibeon, Yahshar’el’s newly acquired territory where their temple workers lived, instead of attacking Yahshar’el directly.

This strategic move of launching indirect attacks is a tactic that Satan and your enemies often use to obstruct your progress. They attack from a distance or roundabout way, employing sly, deceitful, and covert methods to hinder your advancement, often without your knowledge. All the while secretly biding their time until their schemes appear to succeed, then the enemy strikes with full force and unleashes direct attacks.

Examples of These Attacks From Satan and Your Enemies:

(Satan)

• Spirit of discouragement
• Spirit of procrastination
• Spirit of laziness
• Spirit of depression
• Spirit of loneliness

(People)

• Talking behind your back – (gossiping)
• Smile in your face while stabbing you in the back – (Two-Faced)
• Always talking negatively about you to others – (Defamation)
• Blocking your success by persuading others against you – (Defamation)
• Setting you up for failure – (Instigate)
• Intentional microaggression

There is good news in all of this. (Romans 8:31) “WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF YAHWEH BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” 

Conclusion

Satan and your enemies fail to realize that your success was never of your own doing. It was because you were dependent on YAHWEH. Your future success is the same. Stay dependent on YAHWEH and watch Satan and all your enemies scatter and fail.

Read the entire chapter on your own but look at what happens next:

8. And YAHWEH said to Yahoshua, Do not be afraid of them, for I have given them into your hand. Not a man of them shall stand before you.

10 and YAHWEH troubled them before Yahshar’el, and struck them with a great blow at Gibeon, and He pursued by the way of the ascent of Bethhoron, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah. 

11 And it happened, as they fled from the face of Yahshar’el, they were in the descent of Bethhoron, even YAHWEH cast great hail stones on them out of the heavens, to Azekah; and they died. The many who died by the hail stones were more than the sons of Yahshar’el had killed by the sword.

16 And these five kings fled, and were hidden in a cave at Makkedah.

17 And it was told to Yahoshua, saying, the five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.

26 And afterward Yahoshua struck them, and executed them, and hung them on five trees. And they were hanging on the trees until the evening.

Joshua:10:8,10-11,16-17,26 (HRB)

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In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.

By David Edwards

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