TUESDAY February 19, 2019
A Cruel Covenant
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”
1 Samuel 11:1-2
Saul was now king of Israel, when Nahash the Ammonite man who oppressed the people of Jabesh. Interestingly, the name Nashah in the Hebrew languagemeans “serpent.” It is important to see the problems when different leaders rise to power. They want to conquer, dominate and rule. There were great power struggles––pride. In fear, the people of Jabesh were willing to make a covenant with Nahash. Acovenant was an “agreement, a contract or a binding promise.” The people of Jabesh were ready to compromise with Nahash just to have peace, not war.
Nahash was wicked and cruel. He agreed to make a covenant with the people of Jabesh, but in doing so, he wanted to cripple and maim the people. He wanted them to agree to pluck out their right eyes! In biblical times, the right hand was a sign of strength, in the same way, the right eye was considered to be more valuable than the left. When men fought in war, the right eye was the sharpest eye used in battle.
The people of Jabesh made no rush decision, they requested a week to think about Nahash’s unreasonable terms for peace. During that time, they would try to find support, perhaps an ally––someone to help them fight against Ammonites. They turned to men––what about God?
Understand our enemy––Satan, the great dragon, the serpent of old, the Devil (Revelation 12:9), always wants to cripple us. What is Satan’s cruel intent? He shows us no mercy, his goal is to seek to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). We have a strong ally against him––God.
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
~1 John 4:4~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
