Day 4 in the wilderness: Don’t allow hardship to pervert your loyalty.

“And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭23:31-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you’ve ever heard someone referenced as a “Benedict Arnold,” you should know that that is not a compliment. Indeed, Benedict Arnold is one of the most infamous traitors in the history of the United States.

On September 21, 1780, toward the end of the Revolutionary War, Major General Benedict Arnold would have a clandestine meeting with Major Andre of the British army that would bring disaster for both of them.

As commander at West Point, Arnold was arranging for the easy takeover of that facility from which the British army hoped to launch a decisive victory over the United States’ march toward independence. However, a number of unexpected events resulted in discovery of the plot. Major André would be executed a month later at George Washington’s command and Benedict Arnold, having fled to England, would live out his days under the shadow of what he had tried to do.

Interestingly, Benjamin Franklin compared Arnold to Judas. The similarities certainly are there: Judas was part of the Lord’s inner circle and had been trusted with authority. He sold out the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold was a trusted member of George Washington’s inner circle of commanders, and he would attempt to sell out—not only George Washington—but the whole United States for what he thought would be 20,000 pounds and a British military command. In both cases, we see men who have been closely aligned with the one whom they sought to betray. Certainly, both were experiencing pressure. But their lack of resolve concerning their allegiance would lead them to become turncoats.

Today we find the children of Israel being warned by the Lord to not make covenant with the enemy nations they would be conquering. Moses sealed their covenant with the Lord by sprinkling the people with the blood of the sacrifice.

“And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭24:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s interesting to note—and certainly no accident—that our Lord used very similar words in His comments at the Last Supper.

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We are in a covenant with the Lord; our allegiance is with Him. But make no mistake, the enemy of your soul will try to use the pressure you may be experiencing to cause you to change your allegiance.

On our first day in this journey together we referenced the fact that the Lord also faced testing. One part of that testing was an attempt to get Him to change His allegiance.

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Don’t fall prey to the enemy’s attempt to “flip” you by exploiting your weaknesses.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Don’t allow hardship to pervert your loyalty.

#40daysinthewilderness