Dear Friend,

Genesis 49 and Psalm 129 have an important message for Christians who are being repeatedly harassed with adversities. Let's permit them to speak.

Genesis 49:22-26 is a prophetic utterance describing Joseph's extraordinary life. "The archers" are said to have "harassed," "shot at," and "hated" him (49:23). Why? "Joseph is a fruitful bough" (49:22). That is, because his life was to be very fruitful for God he was repeatedly targeted by malicious archers.

Note two key facts. First, the "archers" are not identified in the text. Second, Joseph never experienced combat. Therefore, since Joseph never faced military archers, this text must be interpreted not literally but allegorically. "Archers," who shoot swift, sharp, silent arrows that kill, symbolize demonic forces that inspire sharp words of reproach, slander, and false accusation, or other sudden grievous attacks that assassinate the reputation of the righteous, or some way injure, ruin, or even kill them, all to end their kingdom effectiveness (see Psalm 64:1-4). These demonic archers hated, harassed, and shot at Joseph pitilessly and relentlessly, first through Joseph's brothers, and later, through Potiphar's wife. Why? They sensed God would bear tremendous fruit through this godly young man one day. But Joseph's story didn't end with multiple spiritual arrows lodged in his demonically harassed soul.

To the archers' dismay, God turned their attacks into Joseph's advantages. They only made Joseph stronger as he learned to overcome their cruel, painful arrows. "His bow abode in strength" (Genesis 49:24) reveals they couldn't break the strength of Joseph's faith in God. Despite their worst, he remained devoted and faithful. "The arms of his hands were made strong" (49:24), goes a step further, stating that, Joseph's strength actually increased under their attacks! Since "arms" and "hands" often symbolize strength, we may paraphrase this as, "The strength of his strength became stronger!" How? "By the hands [strength] of the mighty God of Jacob" (49:24). Or, Joseph's strength was now infused with God's own undefeatable divine strength, as he learned how to endure the archers' "arrows" with a spiritual mind. That is, as Joseph came to understand that everything they meant for evil, God intended, and would faithfully turn, for good. Years later, Joseph shared this life-changing insight with the very human vessels through whom the demonic archers had so viciously targeted him, his brothers. "You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people" (Genesis 50:20, NCV). In the end, God recompensed Joseph with the highest possible human honors and blessings (Genesis 49:25-26; see 41:39-45, 51-52), as He later did Job (Job 42:10-17).

Psalm 129 introduces us to the "plowmen" (129:3, NIV). As the psalmist pondered Israel's long, injurious, and weary history, he spoke for the nation when he mused, "Many a time have they [the plowmen] afflicted me . . . many a time," leaving painful lacerations on Israel's national psyche like "long ... furrows" in a field (129:1-3). Why? Israel was God's chosen nation, through whom He would eventually bear the consummate Fruit: the Savior! Who are these plowmen? Again, the biblical writer is not speaking literally. The plowmen were certainly not farmers ripping open Israelis' physical backs with crude, ancient plowshares! Israel's history helps us interpret the psalmist's words. Historically, these plowmen were all the pagan warriors that attacked, defeated, or subjugated Israel down the centuries. Like sharp plowshares ripping open good soil, these pagan warriors ripped open Jewish men and women with their swords, spears, and arrows. Spiritually, however, as in Genesis 49, these plowmen were the demonic forces that inspired these violent attacks on the chosen people - to crush them, kill them, and prevent their consummate Fruit from appearing. But this psalm doesn't end with the Jews being pitilessly ripped up by Gentile armies.

In His great faithfulness, God "cut asunder" the "bindings," or harness straps, of the plowmen and set Israel free (Psalm 129:4). And, subsequently, the chosen nation produced the chosen One - the Messiah. So, despite the plowmen doing their worst, God still did the best. From this perspective, Israel triumphed over its demonic enemies and God, as with Joseph, turned their evil for His good purpose. What, then, are Psalm 129 and Genesis 49 saying to us?

Simply this: We too will face archers and plowmen. They are the demonic "wicked spirits" and "rulers of darkness" whom Paul described in Ephesians 6:12. These "rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness . . . [and] spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm" (CJB) continually shoot hate-arrows at every abiding Christian for two reasons. First, like Joseph and Israel, we are divinely chosen. Second, we, too, are destined to bear much fruit for God - thirty, sixty, or one hundredfold!

Our archers' "arrows" are sudden, sharp, hateful, piercing and, if not handled properly, deadly attacks launched against us without warning by demonic hosts. They come through unredeemed sinners, and also carnal Christians. They are such things as undeserved rejection, unwarranted criticism, vicious revilings, damaging slander, threats of violence, or other undeserved opposition. Arrows always come suddenly and catch us off guard (Psalm 64:1-4).

Our "plows" are deep, grievous losses, physical assaults, and other serious injustices that rip open our otherwise peaceful hearts and prosperous lives and fill them with pain, disruption, and the specter of irreversible failure and hopelessness. And God sometimes lets these plows remain active for a long time. Thus, they produce "long ... furrows" (Psalm 129:3) and leave our lives split open, barren, and apparently headed for the ash heap. But these spiritual plows and arrows need not determine our destinies.

To the contrary, we are still on course to fulfill our destinies, if we learn how to quench our fiery arrows and endure our long plowings. How do we do this?

We accept that these adversities could not have come into our lives unless our heavenly Father permitted them (Job 1:11-12; John 19:11). We believe He is still in control, and limiting every assault, although the archers and plowmen appear free to do whatever they please (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). We continue to trust Jesus Christ's power, goodness, and promises, and believe He will turn all our adversities into advantages, though, for the present, our sad, barren, arrow- and plow-filled lives make Him look like history's greatest liar and us its greatest fools.

We also continue to obey God's Word, pursue His call on our lives, and follow His Spirit's guidance, even though they seem to lead only to more piercings and plowings. And we very intentionally forgive the people through whom our archers are shooting at us and our plowmen are ripping open our hearts and lives. Why? Jesus insisted that we do this (Mark 11:25-26), to grow God's love in us, demonstrate His superior grace, and make us like Jesus (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59-60).

Furthermore, we give God offerings of thanksgiving and praise amid our spiritual warfare, before our ultimate victory becomes visible. Thus, by putting the worship of Christ above our comfort, we honor and please Him immensely (Acts 16:24-26).

And, finally, with childlike faith, we believe the messages of Genesis 49 and Psalm 129, namely, that handling archers increases our spiritual strength, and that one day God will release us from their afflictions and bear much fruit.

So, my friend, while the arrows are still flying and plows still tearing, boldly confess your faith that they are only making you an overcomer! "The strength of my strength is growing stronger every day!" And remember, as our two texts teach, Christ will make you more fruitful - if you remain faithful. So, after every arrow hits and plow rips, take comfort knowing ... more fruit is on the way! Eternal fruit! Only plowed ground produces great harvests, and only oft-plowed Christians yield large amounts of rich kingdom fruit unto Christ.

Summing up, every abiding Christian will face incoming arrows and suffer lacerating plowing if they are indeed divinely called and bearing fruit in the Vine of Christ. This cannot be avoided. But our reaction is crucial, and determinative. If we see these plowings and arrows only as human attacks, give way to bitterness, and resist evil in our own natural wisdom and ways, they will undo us. We will quench our fruit while it's still on the vine and abort our destinies. But if we see them as they are - of not mere human but demonic origin - and handle them as described above, God will turn their unrelenting malice into an unintended ministry of great blessing to us.

Then we can fulfill our Abrahamic destiny to be blessings (Genesis 12:2), by ministering these saving insights to others who are under constant harassment from the archers and the plowmen.

Ministering these saving insights,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries