Police Devotional 8-13-20
Doing the Dirty Work
“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses help up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” (Exodus 17:8-13)
God has just delivered Israel out of slavery in Egypt. They are starting their journey through the wilderness. Amalek, a wicked man, a leader of a gang of criminals, attacked Israel’s most feeble and vulnerable people. Isn’t that what criminals do, attack those most vulnerable? Someone had to fight Amalek. That someone, was Joshua, Israel’s commander, and his troops.
So why did Moses have to go to the top of the hill with the rod? He went there to pray for victory against Amalek. The rod was an object God told Moses to use. The rod is mentioned several times in the story of the Exodus. When God first appeared to Moses to send him to Pharaoh, he told Moses to throw his rod down. Moses did, and the rod became a serpent. Then God told him to take it by the tail. Would you take a snake by the tail? Yet Moses obeyed, and the serpent didn’t bite him. It became a rod again.
God told Moses as He sent him to Pharaoh, “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” (Exodus 4:17) Moses later appeared before Pharaoh and threw the rod down and it became a serpent. Moses also raised the rod on five of the ten plagues. The rod wasn’t a magic wand. The power came from God, not the rod. God didn’t need it to do miracles, just as Jesus didn’t need a kid to provide five loaves and two fishes in order to feed a multitude. Yet they were instruments God used at the time.
The battle against Amalek wasn’t just a physical battle but a spiritual one. Israel was the good guys. Amalek and his people were the bad guys. No question. Israel had a good military leader and strong, brave soldiers, but they also needed God’s help. They needed people to fight, but they also needed people to pray.
As you go out and do police work, you’re the good guys. The criminals are the bad guys. You’re the ones who do the dirty work, who take on the Amaleks who prey on decent citizens. When you respond lights-and-siren to “shots fired” or “male with a gun,” don’t expect to see any politicians, reporters, or activists. They aren’t the ones that decent citizens call when they need help. You are.
Because you do what you do, then, you need to stay physically ready. No doubt Joshua was physically ready. Work out regularly. Practice shooting skills and tactics. Stay current with laws, procedures, and rules of evidence. Yet you also need to pray. Pray often. Pray quietly. Pray en route to dangerous calls. You can talk with the dispatcher and other cops en route to dangerous calls. You can also talk with God. Pray for victories against criminals. Pray for help to honor God by your words and conduct, and not to be discouraged. Pray for help to be a good witness for Jesus.
Prayer and physical labor are both important parts of spiritual battle. Please don’t neglect either. If you want to see from the Bible how to be sure of heaven when you die, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links”, then, “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 8/13/2020
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822