September 10: WORLDLY PUSH AND PULL

However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife. 11:10

The two sons of the late Seleucus II were Seleucus III, who was on the throne only four years (226-222BC) and Antiochus III. The elder of the two, Seleucus III, bent upon regaining the prestige that his father had lost, worked relentlessly to assemble and train a large army. His methods were brutal and unacceptable—even to his fellow Syrians! Within four years of occupying the throne, his own generals poisoned him. His little brother, Antiochus III, was soon crowned king. In 219BC he launched his own military strategy: a systematic campaign to take Palestine from Ptolemy IV. The campaign was successful, and Antiochus III incorporated Jerusalem and its surrounding territory into the Seleucid kingdom.

And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. v.11

Ptolemy IV, king of the South, pulled his army together to curtail the progress of the Syrian king. Historical records show that Antiochus III had 62,000 footmen, 6,000 horsemen, and 102 elephants. The Egyptians had significantly fewer footmen and horsemen, and only 73 elephants. The elephants wore armor and could carry numerous weapon-bearing men (plus the driver). They were the “tanks” of warfare at the time. In spite of Ptolemy’s numerical disadvantage, Antiochus III was decisively defeated at the battle of Raphia (217BC) where 14,000 Syrian soldiers were killed and 4,000 taken prisoner by Ptolemy IV. Thus, the [Syrian] multitude [was] given into the hand of his enemy. And, once again, the land of Palestine was dominated by Egypt.

The kings of the North and of the South are showing a historical pattern of desiring dominance. But neither side is in alignment with God. Through these historical events, there is a symbolism for our time—in earth’s last days—being established. The idea of dominion is short circuited and perverted by the selfishness of man. In the beginning, God gave man dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). This God-given dominion was about stewardship and caretaking. Last-day deceptions will blend politics and religion, incorporating a pretense of caring for mankind—but only through power and control by coerced or forced compliance. The people of God should not be influenced by the push of one side or the pull of the other, but act only in accordance with the Word of God. God’s Way is indeed narrow, but it is also the only safe path!

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it… Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Matthew 7:13-14 and Isaiah 30:21