Grandmasters And The Game

God’s chosen, with the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey; The story of the children of Israel. They had information that there were giants in the land they were to take over. Every tribe knew they had a portion, but they had to fight to take possession.

They had done some bit under Moses' leadership, but there was a whole lot undone still. With Moses was dead, what would happen? The land of the Canaanites remained to be taken. Enquiries made and instructions given, praise would take the lead in repossessing the land of promise. Wait, did I just say praise? Of course, remember Praise and Judah mean the same. Why Judah? Grandmaster issues are walkovers for Praise.

Let us hear the real gist. Self-proclaimed Grandmaster had kept some masters bound. Valiant men became incapacitated; gallant soldiers became crawlers. Men of war could no longer hold a vase, let alone shoot an arrow. Who did this? Did we not just submit that the Grandmaster was self-proclaimed?

How did they agree to serve their mate? Wish I could tell you now, but that would be too much digression. Tis enough for us to know God had issued the judgement. A man should not presume to trifle with God. God will not strive with man forever. Evil must be judged at some point.

God’s people had a promise of an inheritance, and since it was Judah's turn, the enemy was the Grandmaster himself. He had taken hold of seventy Kings; rid them of their dignity, took the shine off their lives, cut off their support system and ensured that they would be dependent on him forever. Powerful seed! People who should sit on thrones became crawlers and indigent under the Grandmaster.

Judah enlisted Simeon, and the chase was after the Grandmaster. They catch up with him at Bezek, his fortified city. He makes good his escape for a season. They get hold of him and guess what, it’s payback time – his thumbs and toes are cut off. He dies a disgraceful death.

Hear his testimony:

They caught up with My-Master-Bezek there and fought him. They smashed the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My-Master-Bezek ran, but they gave chase and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes. My-Master-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to crawl under my table, scavenging. Now God has done to me what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem and he died there. (Judges 1:5-7, The Message)

Now hear what the prophet says:

God is serious business. He won’t be trifled with. He avenges his foes. He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging. But God doesn’t lose his temper. He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power. Still, no one gets by with anything. Eventually, everyone pays. Tornadoes and hurricanes are the wake of his passage, Storm clouds are the dust he shakes off his feet. He yells at the sea: It dries up. All the rivers run dry. The Bashan and Carmel mountains shrivel, the Lebanon orchards shrivel. Mountains quake in their roots, hills dissolve into mud flats. Earth shakes in fear of God. The whole world’s in a panic. Who can face such towering anger? Who can stand up to this fierce rage? His anger spills out like a river of lava, his fury shatters boulders. (Nahum 1:2-6, The Message)

“Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, queen city of the Babylonians. No more will you be called tender or delicate. Take millstones and grind flour; take off your veil. Lift up your skirts, bare your legs, and wade through the streams. Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name—is the Holy One of Israel. “Sit in silence, go into darkness, queen city of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms. (Isaiah 47:1-5)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7)

Fast forward to modern-day Christianity. How many Grandmasters are sitting on thrones...