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They Turned Back in the Day of Battle

Psalms 78:9 – ““The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.”

            Ephraim was the younger of two sons of Joseph.  His first born was Manasseh.  It was Ephraim that received the blessing of Jacob.  The tribe of Ephraim became the largest of the ten northern tribes of Israel.  Many times the Bible used the name Ephraim to represent the whole nation of Israel.

            In verse 9 they are armed and carrying bows.  They are dressed, equipped, and ready to battle.  Yet we learn that they turned back in the day of battle.  The Bible identifies this as sin.  To turn back in the day of battle was displeasing to God. 

            To be armed meant that they were equipped with armor, a sword, and a shield.  The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:11 to instruct us to put on the whole armor of God.  Like the children of Ephraim, we are equipped for battle. The following scriptures reveal where we are to engage the enemy:
  
  • Jude 1:3 instructs us to stand in opposition to false teachers. 
  • Ephesians 6:12 teaches that we struggle against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
  • 2 Timothy 4:7-18 instructs the believer to show courage in the battle.
  • 1 Peter 5:8 teaches the believer to be alert at all times.
  • Revelation 2:2 reveals that the church is to expose those who are not true apostles.


Ephraim turned back in the day of battle.  They were overcome by fear and turned away from the fight.  They did not remember the promises that God had made them.  May it never be said of us that we turned back in the day of battle.  As soldiers in the army of God we must be willing to run to the battle. 


We are equipped for victory.  We have every weapon that is needed to fight this battle of faith against the enemies of God.  We can be tempted to become comfortable and turn aside from doing the will of God.  Hebrews 10:38 cautions, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”  Ephraim displeased God when they turned back in the day of battle.  We must realize that God is mobilizing His last day army to reach the greatest harvest in history. We must be ready to respond to His call.

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