Spiritual Firebrands

        Today I was reading Judges 15 and I came across the word firebrands.  Judges 15:4 says "And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the middle between two tails."  When I read that, I was curious to know what a firebrand is and what it looks like.  From the Webster dictionary, a firebrand is:-

1.  A piece of burning wood
2.  One that creates unrest or strife (as in aggressively promoting a cause) : agitator
 

Another online dictionary defines a firebrand as a person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and taking radical action.
 
        The reason why Samson put firebrands in the middle between two tails of the foxes is because his wife was given to his companion.  In revenge to the philistines, his set the philistines' grain fields on fire.  The quickest and surest way to destroy those fields was to tie foxes tail to tail in pairs and fastening a burning piece of wood to every pair of tails.  I think Samson must have been a crazy man or a pure firebrand and was just very set about getting revenge on the philistines in whichever way possible.  One of the questions I ask myself is, how does one man go out and catches 300 hundred foxes? Does he catch them one by one and comes and locks them somewhere while he goes to catch another one?  Also, did he catch them all in one day?  

        I tried to find out why Samson tied the foxes two by two and this is what I found from the McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia;  "They were probably not so tied that they should pull in different directions, but that they might run deviously and slowly, side by side, and so do the more effectual execution. Had he put a torch to the tail of each, the creature, naturally terrified at fire, would instantly have betaken itself to its hole, or some place of retreat, and thus the design of Samson would have been wholly frustrated. But by tying two of them together by the tail they would frequently thwart each other' in running, and thus cause the greater devastation."

           Is it any wonder Jesus send the disciples two by two? (Luke 10:1)  Is it any wonder why Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst? (Matthew 18:20) Is it any wonder Paul said, quoting the old testament, that at the testimony of two or three witnesses a case will be established?  (2 Corinthians 13:1).  This means then no one can accomplish God's purposes single-handedly.  When we run side by side with like minded believers, we tend to be more effectual in the work of the gospel.

           The other two conclusions I draw from this story are:  One, we have to be burning torches ourselves for us to spread the fires of revival.  We have to be spiritually burning.  We have to be hot not cold or lukewarm.  Remember those who are neither hot nor cold, will be spewed out (Revelation 3:16).  Two, we have to be zealous about spreading that fire; we have to be spiritual firebrands.  We have to give our eyelids no slumber until all the fields that are ripe with the harvest have caught the fires of revival.  God has called us to be firebrands in both ways; having that fire and being passionate about spreading it.

        If we want revival to come to the land, we have to be spiritual firebrands.  We have to be passionate about spreading the word of God.  We have to be radical about speaking out our faith.  We should not leave any stone unturned.  Let us witness Christ in our offices, in our schools, in the market place, in the restaurants, in the gas stations, in the business meetings, in the parks, in the city and in the country.  Let us becomes radicals about making him known and making him famous.  Let us knock on heavens doors and bring the Glory of God down.    In our praying, let us become even fervent; in our worship, let us pour our hearts more; in our study, let us dig those wells more; and in our sharing let us become even louder and bolder.  Let us not keep silent and let us give him no rest until he establishes your city; your nation; your school; your organization; your family; your neighborhood; a praise in the earth.  Isaiah 62:6-7.  Selah!