Finish the War

“And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;” (Es 9:23 AV)

 

To give a bit of context, Mordecai is the second in command to a pagan king.  Haman, his predecessor, manipulated King Ahasuerus into condemning the Jewish people to extermination.  When the plot was discovered by Queen Esther informing her husband, Haman was hung and the Jews, through Mordecai, were given the ability to defend themselves.  This defense went over a period of two days; one day at a time.  On the first day, the Hebrews were allowed to defend.  At the end of the first day, Mordecai asked Ahasuerus if the Jews could then go on the offensive and strike back at their enemies the day following.  The king granted Mordecai and the Jews their petition.  The above statement is Mordecai’s address to the Jews for that second day.   The first day allowed God’s people to identify their enemy.  The second day allowed them to be the aggressor and deal with those enemies.  Victory requires a good defense and a good offense.  However, we want to dwell on one simple truth. 

In my childhood, snowball fights were common.  With a family of eleven children, this was a regular sporting event.  When the snow began to fly, the first thing we did was to build a fort.  We had these red plastic snow-brick makers.  We would pile the snow in these molds, pat it down really hard, flip it over, and build an igloo.  We would use ‘street snow’.  That snow that had been packed down and condensed.  At a bit of water to make it all stick together, and you had an ice brick.  After our forts were constructed, the battle began.  The point of the battle was for the other team to give up first.  The problem was if both teams stayed safely inside their fort, the battle was a draw.  Only by mounting an assault could one overcome the other team of siblings.  If there was no assault, this battle could continue indefinitely.  Keeping the enemy sibling confined in his fort is not a victory.  Nor does it end the conflict.  There must be a clear victor for the war to end.

When it comes to warring a spiritual battle, it is important to finish what was started.  A half-completed victory is no victory at all.  Paul writes of the spiritual battle of which we are entered in his letter to the Ephesians.  He goes through the armor of that warfare and encourages us to don it.  This spiritual armor is both defensive and offensive.  There is the shield of faith and the word of God.  There are the feet, shod with the preparation of the gospel.  These are all offensive in nature.  Paul intends for us to engage the enemy and continue on until that enemy is beaten back.  Had Mordecai and the Hebrews not pursued their enemies the second day, the enemies would have still been there to harass them.  Whether we like it or not, there will not be a moment’s peace until we graduate to heaven.  As long as the world, the devil and our flesh are with us, our battle rages on.  Finish what we start.  Get full and complete victory.  That is our goal!