The things of this earth can sometimes fill our hearts so much that there is no room left for Christ. We find an excellent illustration of this danger and its consequences in an incident from the Book of Judges. Because of their disobedience, the Lord gave his people into the hands of Midian for seven years. Just as Midian ruled over Israel at that time, so too can the things of this earth rule over us today because we allow them too much influence in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:12). The way the Midianites oppressed the Israelites also has much to tell us.
Thieves that take our blessings – then and now
The description of the Midianites’ attacks against the people of Israel shows how much the people were robbed of their blessings. For the people of God at that time, it was earthly blessings; for us today, we draw the parallel to heavenly blessings. In the imagery of the Bible, the land of Canaan refers to the heavenly blessings we can already enjoy now. We are redeemed from the bondage of the devil (Egypt) through the death of Christ (Red Sea) – and the same death of Christ (Jordan) brings us into the blessings of heaven. Some examples include: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, fellowship as an assembly (church), and possession of the Holy Spirit (cf. Eph 1:3–13).
Of course, we should faithfully fulfill our earthly tasks and duties (at school, at work, or in the family) (while being careful that these things do not take up too much space in our lives). But the many other things with which we pass our time and which want to occupy and burden us rob us of time for our actual blessings as Christians. Examples of such “blessing thieves” include social and streaming media, surfing the Internet, computer games, excessive sports, and any other social, political, or economic event or topic that occupies our hearts (keyword: coronavirus pandemic).
Even though many of these things are not inherently evil, they all have one major disadvantage: they do not bring us closer to Christ but draw us away from Him. The more space we give them in our lives, the more they occupy our thoughts and thus rob us of some of the (spiritual) blessings that the Lord has intended for us.
They took their time (Judges 6:1)
As a result of their disobedience, the Lord gave His people into the hands of Midian for seven years. These were “lost” years in which they served Midian instead of their God. The time we spend on earthly or even worldly things beyond our tasks and duties is also lost time in which we cannot serve our Lord.
Question for you:
- Are you aware that time is one of the most precious gifts God has given us?
- Do you still find time for the Lord and His interests in your daily routine, or do you spend a lot of time on things that have no “eternal value”?
They took their land (Judges 6:2)
The Midianites took the land from the Israelites and drove them into the mountains. The land of Canaan speaks of our heavenly inheritance, which we are to take possession of in faith (Eph. 1:3, 14). However, those who concern themselves only with the things of this earth will not be able to enjoy the blessings of their heavenly inheritance.
Question for you:
- Do you know your heavenly inheritance? And have you thanked God for it?
- Are you concerned with what God has given you in the Lord Jesus?
They took their houses (Judges 6:2)
The Midianites took the Israelites’ houses in the fertile plains, forcing them to retreat to the ravines, caves, and mountain fortresses. An excessive preoccupation with earthly things robs us of true Christian life with all the blessings that go with it (cf. 1 Tim. 6:19).
Question for you:
- What is the focus in our homes and families? Christ or the world?
- Can people tell from our homes to whom we belong?
They took away their freedom (Judges 6:1)
The Midianites took away the freedom of the children of Israel, so that they could no longer move freely in the land. – The things of this earth bind us to the earth and obscure our view of the Lord. They rob us of the freedom for which Christ has set us free and bring us into bondage (Galatians 5:1).
Question for you:
- To whom does your heart belong? Is it filled with Christ or with the things of this earth?
- Are you truly free (John 8:36) or bound to the things of this earth or world (keyword: computer games)?
They took away their peace (Judges 6:3)
The Midianites came into the land to corrupt it. They took away the peace and tranquility of the Israelites in the land. Every new day shows that this world is overflowing with bad news. Across the board, the outlook and forecasts are bleak. If we expose ourselves to this influence, it can cause us anxiety and unrest.
Question for you:
- Do you have peace with God (Romans 5:1)? Do you also know the peace of heart (Colossians 3:15)?
- Do the worries and problems of this world rob you of your inner peace, or do you rest in the knowledge that God holds all the destinies of this earth in His hand?
They took away their harvest (Judges 6:4)
When the Israelites had sown their seed, the Midianites came and destroyed the harvest. The harvest reminds us of the fruit we are to bear for God in our lives (John 15:8). However, if we neglect the Word of God and prayer and instead pursue earthly interests, the fruit for God in our lives will be lacking.
Question for you:
- What do those around you see in you? The fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19–23)?
- Is it a matter close to your heart to bear fruit for God and glorify Him in your life?
They took away their food (Judges 6:4)
The Midianites left no food for the children of Israel in Israel, so that the Israelites had to suffer hunger. If we concern ourselves too much with the things of this earth, we will no longer have the time and (spiritual) energy to feed on Christ and His glories, so that we will suffer spiritual hunger (John 6:35).
Question for you:
- Do you take time every day to feed on Christ and His Word?
- Which nature do you nourish—the new or the old?
They took their sacrificial animals (Judges 6:4)
The Midianites took not only the Israelites’ food, but also their small livestock and cattle, leaving them with no more sacrificial or working animals. – The Father seeks worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). However, if our hearts are filled with earthly things, we will be unable to worship Him properly. Furthermore, we will lack the strength to serve, so that the mutual edification of our brothers and sisters in faith will not take place (1 Pet. 4:10-11).
Question for you:
- Do you praise and thank God for what He has shown you in His Word?
- Are we available to the Lord so that He can use us to edify others?
They made them poor (Judges 6:6)
The Midianites took almost everything from the children of Israel, so that they became very poor. We too will become spiritually poor if we devote all our time and energy to earthly and temporal things and neglect the heavenly and eternal. As so often in life, it is a question of priorities: Do we want to be rich in terms of the earth or rich in terms of God (Luke 12:21)?
Question for you:
- What are your goals in life? What priorities have you set for yourself?
- Do you live for the earth or for heaven?