Yahweh-Maginnenu
The LORD Our Defense

Have you ever been involved in a play battle, like tossing water balloons or snowballs? Our young adults have recently had their fair share of nerf gun battles. When you played these kind of games, how did you shield yourself to avoid getting hit? Perhaps you dodged the incoming projectiles, or sought refuge behind a barrier. Maybe you even used something to block these playful attacks, like a shield. Our question today is ‘what might serve as your metaphorical shield in life's challenges?’

A shield is something we use for protection, it’s a defense against things that could harm us. Without a shield, we would undoubtedly receive more hits fin our playful skirmishes.

Did you know that God functions as our shield in a spiritual sense? The Scriptures tell us:
You are my refuge and my shield. (Psalm 119:114)
Our soul waits for Yahweh; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

God is a shield, putting Himself between us and our adversities that would otherwise wound His children. He stands on guard against attacks and defends us in our times of need. He is Yahweh-Maginnenu, the LORD Our Defense.

Remember the account of Moses, who wasn’t facing nerf bullets or snowballs but the harshness of words directed at him by his own family, Miriam and Aaron. They expressed disdain for Moses' choice of a wife and questioned his leadership over the Israelites. Their complaints reached the ears of the Lord.

“Has Yahweh indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us?” (Numbers 12:2)

What did Yahweh-Maginnenu do in response? He defended Moses! God had appointed Moses as the leader of His people and had communicated directly with him. So, when Miriam and Aaron grumbled against him, Yahweh was angered by their sinful actions. He confronted them, declaring their error and bringing about the consequences for their words.

This account is a reminder for us that Yahweh-Maginnenu is ever vigilant to defend those He has called, safeguarding us from the slings and arrows of those that would destroy us. Oh what comfort we can find in knowing that God stands as our protector, even amidst the challenges we face from those closest to us.

Yahweh is our shield, standing guard against the attacks that come our way. He is Yahweh-Maginnenu, the LORD Our Defense. This doesn't mean we won't experience pain or hardship at times. We also hear the refrain in Scripture, “Our soul waits for Yahweh.” There are moments when God allows His children to endure hardship before He intervenes. His aim is to strengthen us through these challenges, and then at the right moment, He comes to our defense.

Consider Jesus. Many rejected Him and refused to believe that He was the Son of God. Anger brewed among the people, and eventually they demanded his death. They took him to Pontius Pilate, blasting him with false accusations. Yet, Jesus did not defend Himself against their lies. He trusted that His Father, Yahweh-Maginnenu, would vindicate Him.

“He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:22-23)

We all know what happened next. Pilate released Barabbas, a notorious criminal, and sentenced Jesus, who had committed no wrongdoing, to death. Did Yahweh forget His role as Yahweh-Maginnenu? Did El Roi overlook this injustice? Was El Shaddai unable to protect Jesus?

Yahweh-Maginnenu allowed the crucifixion of Jesus. He permitted the world to doubt His Son's divinity. Yet, in a wonderful reversal, He resurrected Jesus, demonstrating that He is indeed the Son of God! He defended Jesus by clearly demonstrating that nothing could ultimately harm or defeat Him.

Why did God allow Jesus to die on the cross? Why did He wait to come to His defense? It was so that Yahweh-Maginnenu could shield us from the consequences we deserve for our sins. Just like Miriam and Aaron, we have all sinned and stand in need of protection from God’s righteous anger. And indeed, GOD HIMSELF has been our defense! He is Yahweh-Maginnenu, the LORD Our Defense!

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)