January 12, 2026

HEMMED IN

1 Maccabees 3:18-19 (not in the Protestant Bible)

Then Judas said, “It is easy to hem in many at the hands of a few, and it makes no difference before heaven to save with many or with few. For victory in battle does not come from the size of the army, but from the might of heaven.”

Personal Challenge

Our world, especially our nation, is filled with chaos. Wars and rumors of wars abound. Rampant lies and misinformation fill the airwaves. Fascism and other forms of authoritarinism is taking hold of countries around the world. People and organizations proclaiming to be Christian are doing and saying things that would cause Jesus to weep. We are all feeling hemmed in by all this chaos, and as if we will never win the battle of sanity. Judas Macabeus led a ragtag army against an enormous and well equiped military regime that was visciously oppressing his people. He knew though that if he and his as army were staying true to the calling of their God, that God’s army would supplement his. We too can rest in the truth that if we are standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, the widow, the orphan, the naked, the poor, the foreigner amongst us, then we are fighting a war that God is fighting a well. We are not alone. We are not hemmed in. Lord, have mercy! Lord have mercy! Lord, have mercy!