Are you staying out of it? Keeping your head down? Minding your own business?
If so, you may be in danger of falling under . . .
The Curse of Meroz
Found in the book of Judges, Meroz was a city that did not help when Israel was being oppressed. The oppression was so heavy in Israel that freedom was practically non-existent to the degree that life came to a standstill. The people of Israel were held in this place of oppression by Jabin (king of Canaan), Sisera (captain of Jabin's army), and their 900 chariots of iron. Can you say, "INTIMIDATION"?
The Lord stirred Deborah to action. In faith, she rallied Barak, the commander of Israel's army. Barak gathered the troops and went to face the intimidating 900 chariots of iron in the name of the Lord. God honored their stand against tyranny by sending torrential rain. Those 900 hundred chariots of iron were not so intimidating as they began to slip and slide until they sank deep into the muddy mire.
When people of faith take action by standing together against tyranny and oppression, God will fight for them! Even heaven's angels got involved in the battle (Judges 5:20). It was the angel of the Lord that called down a curse on Meroz for their inactivity and passivity:
"‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord,
‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly,
Because they did not come to the help of the Lord,
To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’"
Judges 5:23
Meroz means "refuge". Likely, the inhabitants of Meroz were literally taking refuge in the city, hiding because of crimes they had committed. If they left the city to get involved in the conflict, they would put their lives in danger. All of Israel put their life in danger but not the inhabitants of Meroz. They kept their heads down. They tended to their own business. They stayed out of the conflict in fear for their lives. This brought a curse on them.
A woman named, Jael, got involved. Fear did not stop her. She cunningly lured Sisera into her tent where she drove a tent peg into his head. She got involved and, unlike Meroz, she got a blessing from the angel of the Lord.
Beware of the curse of Meroz. Take a stand against oppression and tyranny. God will show up. Watch those intimidators and their 900 hundred chariots of iron sink in the murky mire of truth and justice.
Check out my book and Bible studies:
The Greatest Romance is a wonderful guide into the perfect love of God.
Paul's Warfare Manuel is a study of the book of Ephesians.
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