Sounding The Trumpets And Defeating The Enemy In Your Life
I’m listening to the Bible chronologically in a year with the app Dwell, and today I was listening to Numbers 10 when something stood out to me like an apple in a basket of oranges.
I literally had to stop everything and listen to this because the Holy Spirit was like, “Yo, Keela, pay attention!”
…and so I paid attention…obviously….
Anywhooooo, in this passage, God commands the Israelites to make two special trumpets that will be blown when the community needs to something. In this case, if one was sounded, leaders of Israel gathered for a meeting, and if two sounded, all of the people gathered. It also gives different instructions based on the type of sound the trumpets make. And then it moves on to say this:
Only the priests, Aaron’s descendants, are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation. When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind your God of his covenant with you. I am the Lord your God. (Numbers 10:8-9 NLT, emphasis added)
Okay, so at first glance, you might be like, “Ehhhhh, what’s the big deal?”
Well, give me a second to explain, Nosy-Rosy.
Upon further research, I found that blowing the trumpets served multiple purposes, including:
The trumpets tell people an instruction from God and how to respond.
They were usually used for military purposes, directing the camp where to go.
Their function was similar to a drummer boy; their sound declared to the world that they were going to war.
Their sound is like a prayer to God, reminding Him of His covenant promise to help them.
It declares that God will fulfill His promise to them.
They were also used in celebration, reminding the people of God’s faithfulness.
Okay, so you’re probably still sitting there thinking, “Okayyyyyyy, why does that matter?”
I’M STILL EXPLAINING. JUST WAIT PATIENTLY AND KEEP READING.
While I was listening to this passage in Numbers, my mind kept whirling back to this verse in Revelation, talking about the trumpets sounding when Jesus finally comes back and takes His throne:
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NLT)
And now we can put two and two together.
The sound of trumpets means the same thing in 1400 BC as it will when Jesus comes back.
When the trumpets sound in the end times, they are a battle cry, signaling God’s people to unite, and they remind God of His covenant promise to defeat the enemy and save us.
When those trumpets sound, the Great Warrior King is going to war, and He WILL win once and for all, for victory is already His.
No army will stand in His way. No power from the enemy will be able to defeat Him.
Just imagine….
The King Almighty stands before the world as the trumpets sound, protecting His people. Blood and sweat crease His brow from battle, and His angels stand behind Him, weapons wielded.
And victory is in His hands.
His victory. Our victory. We are finally free. We are finally one with the King, and nothing separates us from His great love that continuously pursues us and fights for us.
[insert a chorus of hallelujahs here]
“Okay, so that’s all fine and dandy. Trumpets were this cool thing that the Israelites used thousands of years ago, and they’re going to be used when Jesus comes back. What’s the big deal? What happens in the time between?”
Right now, in this moment, God is waiting for you to sound your trumpet.
You see, God is not waiting by idly, fiddling his thumbs. He is an ACTIVE part of your life, and He wants to defeat your enemy RIGHT NOW.
He’s waiting for you to sound your trumpets by:
Reminding yourself of His promise to you, and believing it.
Responding to His instructions.
Praying and crying out to Him for help.
Reminding Him of His promise to you, claiming it, and declaring it.
Celebrating because you know that He WILL fulfill His promise to you.
And when you do that, sweet friend, He promises to remember you and rescue you from your enemies.
Perhaps you need to sound your trumpets and remind God of His promise to you and remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise.
Perhaps you need to sound your trumpets and unleash God’s power on your enemy.
Maybe you need to sound your trumpets on your idolatry.
Or sound your trumpets on your pride.
Or your insecurity.
Or your depression.
Or your unforgiveness.
Or the situation you’re in.
Or that person who you want to stab with a high heel (because we’ve all been there!).
Maybe, just maybe, today is the day that we unite under a banner of freedom and declare God’s sovereignty on our lives.
…and then go blow some trumpets in celebration.
Today is the day that God goes to war and writes the word “VICTORIOUS” on your name.
Friend, the King reigns. He has not forgotten you. He sees the pain and the heartache and the sin that you’re trapped in, and He waits, armed and ready for battle, waiting for you to call to Him. He’s waiting for you to sound your trumpets and declare His promises.
I am reminded of the lyrics from Desert Song by Hillsong Worship:
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
And this is my prayer in my battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
Stand firm on His promise. Sound your trumpets, friend, and let Him defeat the enemy for you.
