When the “eth” is With You…
June 29th, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
“The battle is not to the strong… But time and chance happen to all” (Ecc 9:11) “And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and struck it so that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay flat. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else except the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand has God delivered Midian, and all the host” (Judges 7:13 - 14)
So, you’ve heard the story by now… Gideon has an encounter with the Angel of the Lord and is instructed to take on the Midianites and deliver Israel. After testing and retesting the word of the Lord, he gets up an army of 32,000 men. Not nearly enough to defeat the Midianites it would seem, but God thought there were too many.
Gideon is instructed to send all the fearful ones home. That cleared out more than two thirds leaving only 10,000. If you weren’t afraid before, you just might have been when you saw how many of your buddies packed up and headed home. Then God has another filter process to take them through to reduce their army to 300.
God is about to prove in no uncertain terms that the battle is not to the strong. Clearly Gideon’s men were outnumbered hundreds to one, maybe more. But God had an “eth” in store and when you are in God’s “eth” you don’t need numbers or strength or skill. You just need to get in on the “eth”. It’s a timing thing.
Just before battle, Gideon sneaks over to the enemy’s camp and overhears some talking in their tent about a dream one of them had about a barley loaf which represented Gideon that rolled into their camp, overturning and flattening a tent. The men knew what it meant and were very afraid. Now Gideon knew what it meant and was greatly encouraged. He knew that he knew that he knew he was in the “eth” of God and confidently put his 300 men around the camp with a trumpet in one hand and a pitcher with a lamp in it in the other hand. Not exactly battle gear. But this was the “eth” of God and Gideon was triumphant.
When you are in the “eth” of God, you have more than enough for the task at hand. It is the safest, most exciting place to be. Are you in an “eth” right now? Do you sense His leading right now into what appears to be impossible odds? If it is the “eth” of God, nothing can stop you.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Great stuff Michael, I was reminded this week that we can often rush into something thinking God wants to get us there suddenly. But we have to keep listening to all the instructions along the way, even if they seem to pare us down to nothing! My workplace has been waiting for a breakthrough, but it seems a long time coming. We have lost some good people, acquired some difficult ones, but along the way I’m learning a lot about being obedient in every detail. I look forward to the day we are told to blow the trumpets and bash the gourds, and see the enemy routed in this land as we obey. It will be worth waiting for!
June 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Thanks so much Michael for your encouraging post. Many of my church mates and I are experiencing extreme financial difficulties these days. But in moments like this that we are drawn closer to God.
We are all expecting miracles from God!
God bless.
Jose
June 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Hi Michael,
I liken reconizing the ‘eth’ of Father to catching the scent of a summer thunderstorm before it arrives. If one is on the backside of the golf course, on foot and we catch that scent, whether there is a cloud in the sky or not, it is best to start moving to the place of safety. There is an amazing, tangibleness to the ‘eth’ that is currently running through the earth. We each enter the ‘eth’ that Father has for us, as we first acknowledge to Him, yes Father, we catch the scent, and we are moving, then we have set the platform for Father to give us the lamp and the trumpet we need for overwhelming victory. Hallelujah! HAHAHAHAHA! Sure feels good, no?
Love ya and rejoice for the work that He is working in each of us at this time.
Brother Ray.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Thanks
June 29th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I have a question: if we do feel that we are being led into something that appears impossible, how do we know if the barriers are ones that are to be pounded on, or if they are roadblocks from God?
Thanks for any thoughts!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:39 am
What is the “eth” of God again.
I get the gist that it is timing, His appointment, His direction… but what exactly is “eth”?
Thanks,
June 29th, 2009 at 11:08 am
David asked ‘what is the “eth” again?’ My question as well. I love your article, but nowhere in the scripture was there an “eth”.
Thank you in advance for the answer.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
What if you don’t feel like you’re in the “eth” of God?
June 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I have been reading your blog for sometime now, and love the balance that you have with scripture as well as the experience of the Holy Spirit, if that is how you would put it.
But, I really needed to read this encouraging message today!!
Thank you for your faithfulness, brother.
I am definitely in an “eth”time and wondering “how will this get done?”
But, if it is to be, then as I keep plugging away, it will. He will do what He has called us to do…
By the way, Brother Ray, beautiful words….thanks all!
June 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
To Michael and all readers of this blog,
Please let me know if you can see there is much more to the story of Gideon that reflects God’ s overall purpose and plan for earth that only the mature spiritual eye can discern. Scripture reveals that both the Midianites and the Amalekites were from the “flesh, carnal, cursed” seed of Abraham, not from Abraham’ s spiritual seed of promise through Isaac. The Midianites came through Keturah, Abraham’ s wife after Sarah had died. (See Genesis 23:2 and Genesis 25:1-2). Keturah is a popular female name among modern day Arabs who are mostly all decendants of Abraham and the women Keturah (his wife after Sarah’ s decease) and Hagar (Sarah’ s handmaiden) after the flesh. Many American carnal Christians have never even heard of the name Keturah, much less know of her significance as Abraham’ s wife after Sarah had died. I had never heard the name Keturah until I met a Muslim Morrocan lady named Keturah when I was stationed in Rota, Spain from 1973-76. Through this lady I learned there are many Arab/Berber Muslim women named Keturah. But at that time I did not know that Keturah was the name of Abraham’ s wife after Sarah had died.
Genesis 36:8-12 records that Esau dwelt in Mount seir. Esau is Edom. There are many biblical prophecies concerning Mount Seir and Edom. Esau’ s son Eliphaz bore Amalek from Timna, Elephaz’ s concubine.
Numbers chapters 22-24 record the story of the prophet Balaam whose evil doctrine is mentioned by Jesus in Revelation 2: 14. Balaam’ s evil doctrine was that of a prophet for profit. Balaam was in covenant anointing with God to speak only His word. Yet he allowed himself to be tempted and enticed with wealth by King Balak to curse the children of God’ s promise, Israel. But Balaam’ s covenant anointing with God as a Holy Prophet prevented him from doing so. Instead, Balaam, spiritually “looked upon Amalek” (probably the seed of Satan he “spiritually” saw in King Balak) and took up his parable saying, “Amalek was the first of nations (i.e. nations dominated by Satan in the mystery of iniquity); but his later end shall be that he perish (from earth) for ever. And he looked upon the Kenites (the seed of Satan in the Kenites) and took up this parable, and said, strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock (like eagles). Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be wasted until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, alas, who shall live when God doeth this? And ships shall come from Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he shall also perish forever. And Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. In this account we see the forces of Satan fighting against each other on earth and all perishing from earth forever.
The spiritual truth and significance of these scriptures reflect God’ s overall purpose and plan to restore his kingdom on earth. This is a great ystery that is hidden in the account of the Garden of Eden, especially in the curse God placed upon the seed of the satanic serpent and upon the seed of Eve, which is Christ Jesus. There would be enmity between these two seeds. This constitutes the mystery of iniquity. Satan’ s seed would bruise the heel of Eve’ s seed, Christ (in his walk) but eventually the seed of Eve, Christ, would bruise the head of Satan’ s seed thereby removing and destroying it from earth. St. John discusses these two seeds in 1John chapter 3. The seed of God, which is in every man and woman is Christ , the very image of God in which all men were created. The seed of Satan, also in every man and woman, commits sin because it is of the devil that sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God, Jesus Christ, was manifested, that he might destroy the works (sins) of the devil. (See Daniel 9:24) Whosever is born of God (the seed of God in all mankind, Christ) does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous.
But it is very important to note that Cain slew Abel while he was under the influence of the evil one. But Cain still had the seed of God in him to which God spoke saying, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?And if thou doest not well, sin (satan) lieth at the door (of Cain’s mind). And unto thee shall be his desire, AND THOU SHALT RULE OVER HIM (sin or Satan).
Here the spirit of God was again prophesying to all mankind, in his word to Cain, that His seed, Christ, in every man and woman would overcome Satan and rule over him.
Jesus spoke a similar word to the seed of God in St. Peter when he told him, “Satan was to sift you like wheat but I have prayed for you and after you are converted (to God’ s ways and thoughts), strengthen your brethren.” Jesus also once addressed the seed of Satan in St. Peter’s pride, saying, “Get thee behind me Satan.”
In Romans chapter 7, St. Paul discusses the enmity between God’ s seed (his inward man, Romans 7:22)) and the seed of satan (the law of sin) in his members (Romans 7:23).
The story of Gideon, of course, reflects that it is not by might nor power but my spirit, saeth the Lord, that Satan’ s influence in the mind of mankind will be overthown. St. Paul takes up this theme in 2 Corin. 10:4 saying, “The weapons of our warfafe are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
But the carnally minded man will not understand these things because they are spiritually discerned. But spiritually minded men will eventually all understand these things because they all have the mind of Christ in various stages of development. Thus it is God’ s will that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
In God’ s mighty plan and purpose for earth, carnal mindedness is only a temporary phase of man’ s thinking and spiritual development as God renews and develops mankind’ s mind to spiritual maturity and perfection to conform to the mature and righteous thinking of the mind of Christ.
We are all, every human being on earth, “works of God in progress”. The seed of God in all of us loves this good work God is doing in all mankind. But this seed of God in us also hates the evil work that Satan has wrought in all of us (the mystery of iniquity). When we are able to make this distinction between the seed of God and the seed of Satan operating in all mankind, then we will be seeing things spiritually as God sees them. Amen
David Thompson
July 1st, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Dear Readers;
Please read the blog on June 11th to understand where the “eth” of God is found in Scripture. Others before and after that further expound on it.
Blessings from Panama. Michael