Breakthrough by Marcia Lee Laycock

Breakthrough by Marcia Lee Laycock

I love the Old Testament. The history of the Hebrew people is fascinating. The history of how God provided for them, sustained them and brought them to the place where He wanted them, is awe inspiring. The book of 2 Samuel, verses 17-20 is a perfect example. David has just taken the city of Jerusalem. The Philistines are massing for attack. Picture them as a formidable wall of enemies spread out across the valley. In the face of this, I would have been tempted to just attack. The enemy was obvious, David knew He was the anointed King and had God’s blessing. But he did not rush off to the attack. First, he prayed and asked God what he should do.

God answered and the enemy was defeated.

David said, “as waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” (2Sam.5:20).

The word used for break out means to breach like water in flood. If you have ever experienced a flood you will know the power that David witnessed. I remember clearly the day I witnessed that force of nature.

We had purchased some property on the banks of the Klondike River, about ten miles out of Dawson City, Yukon. We hauled an old trailer on the property to live in while we built our log house. We were doing some work to that old trailer one afternoon in late spring when we heard what sounded like a very big freight train. But there were no railway tracks anywhere near us. We stood still and listened for a while. Then my husband’s eyes lit up.

“It’s the river,” he said.

We rushed down to the banks of the Klondike to watch the yearly event that every Yukoner is happy to see – breakup. The sound of the ice shifting and grinding was so loud we could hardly hear one another. We watched as a huge slab of ice broke free and was heaved into the air. A massive tree was tossed up as though it were a toothpick. And the river surged up and over its banks. We had to run to get away from it.

I will never forget the evidence of the power of nature on that day. It was unstoppable. I am sure David never forgot the evidence of the power of his God as his enemies fell before him. God’s plan was enough - it broke through before David’s army. David’s God was unstoppable.

What enemies are coming against you? In a spiritual sense, what enemies keep you from the Lord? Know that you have an all-powerful, unstoppable God who is just waiting for you to turn to Him and ask what you should do. He will answer.

But it is important to remember David’s attitude. He did not demand that God act, he did not demand a victory, he asked God to reveal His plan. Then he obeyed.

God has not changed since those long-ago days. He is still the almighty, all powerful God who will defeat your enemies. May we all go to Him like David did, not with the arrogance of entitlement, but with the humility of a servant.