What other biblical instances show God's power over nations opposing Him? Setting the Scene: 1 Samuel 5:6 “Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod; He ravaged them and afflicted them with tumors—both Ashdod and its territory.” God’s judgment on Philistia sets the tone for many other moments when He steps in to defend His name and His people. Egypt Overwhelmed by Plagues • Exodus 9:16—“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” • Exodus 12:12—God strikes the firstborn “and execute[s] judgment against all the gods of Egypt.” The ten plagues dismantle Egypt’s economy, religion, and pride, proving the LORD’s supremacy over a world power. The Red Sea: An Army Drowned • Exodus 14:28—“The waters returned and covered the chariots and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh… Not one of them survived.” What military could plan for a sea that parts, then collapses? God wins without Israel lifting a weapon. Jericho’s Walls Fall Flat • Joshua 6:20—“When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted… the wall collapsed.” Canaan’s fortified gateway tumbles through praise and obedience, not siege engines. Midianite Panic in Gideon’s Day • Judges 7:22—“When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD set the sword of each man against his companion throughout the camp, and the army fled.” Torches, jars, and trumpets become instruments of divine warfare, turning Midian’s strength against itself. Assyrian Defeat outside Jerusalem • 2 Kings 19:35—“That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.” The world’s fiercest army is silenced overnight; Judah wakes to victory without a battle. Jehoshaphat’s Choir and the Self-Destructing Invaders • 2 Chronicles 20:22—“The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir… and they were defeated.” Worship leads; God fights. Three enemy nations turn on each other. Babylonian Kings Humbled: Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar • Daniel 4:31-32—A voice from heaven declares, “The kingdom has departed from you!” Nebuchadnezzar loses his sanity until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty. • Daniel 5:30—“That very night, Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain.” Prideful monarchs discover that kingdoms exist only at God’s pleasure. Herod Struck Down in the Book of Acts • Acts 12:23—“Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” Rome’s regional ruler meets the same fate as ancient tyrants who challenged the Most High. Looking Ahead: Nations in Revelation • Revelation 19:15—“He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” • Revelation 19:21—“The rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse.” History moves toward a final scene where every opposing coalition is dismantled by the King of kings. From Ashdod to Armageddon, Scripture consistently displays a God who defends His glory and His people, overturning any nation that sets itself against Him. |
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