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1. We look back to the cross, and there see that Christ triumphed over
principalities and powers, thereby rendering us "more than conquerors"
in His victory (Col. 2: 15).
2. Our present conflict is with the "world-holders of this darkness", it is
described as a wrestling.
3. A conflict upon a more vast scale will take place when the church prepares to
enter its inheritance in resurrection.
These tree phases of conflict are found in the typical history of Israel.
The victory of the Cross.
The first, which typifies the triumph over principalities and powers by the cross, and
which lies at the basis of all victory (Rom. 8: 37-39), is set forth by the victory over
Pharaoh, a victory in which Israel did nothing but "stand still, and see the salvation of the
Lord, for . . . . . the Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace" (Exod. 14: 14).
This initial victory had far-reaching effects:--
"The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of
Palestina . . . . . all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away . . . . . they shall be as still
as a stone, till Thy people pass over, which Thou hast purchased" (Exod. 15: 14-16).
Rahab, of Jericho, said to the spies:--
"I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us,
and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted because of you. For we have heard
how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt"
(Josh. 2: 9, 10).
Here it will be seen that the initial victory at Israel's redemption went before them,
melting the opposition of their foes. By reading Joshua 2: 10, 11, and 5: 1, we see that
the second victory, namely, that of Israel over Amalek, Sihon and Og, all of which be it
noted are on "this side of Jordan", likewise carried consternation into the ranks of the
Canaanites.
The present conflict.
The present conflict with the "world-holders of this darkness" is typified in Israel's
battles with Amalek, Sihon and Og. We must remember that the reason why Israel were
led through the wilderness, instead of taking the shorter road through the land of the
Philistines, was to prevent the people from being discouraged, "lest peradventure the
people repent when they see war" (Exod. 13: 17). Consequently, the battles of the
wilderness are not to be reckoned as "war" in the full sense. Our present conflict is
spoken of as "wrestling", the shock of battle may be yet future.
It will help us considerably to note a few features of this typical wilderness struggle.
The first great victory was immediately subsequent to redemption. After Amalek's attack
Israel do not meet Canaanite foes until they have met with God, have been cleansed,