There is always a Rival to God’s work: Abel’s brother Cain; Isaac’s half-brother, Ishmael; Jacob’s twin brother, Esau; all of Joseph’s brothers; David’s rival, Saul; Solomon’s rival brothers, Absolom and Adonijah; Judah’s rival kingdom, Israel; the true temple’s rival altars at Dan and Beersheba; Israel’s rival god, Baal; the Lord’s rivals, the Pharisees and Sadducees; the apostle Paul’s rivals, Bar-Jesus the false prophet, the false apostles at Corinth, Hymenaeus and Philetus (the evil weevils); the opposing Jewish legalists of Galatia; his ambitious rivals at Philippi.
There are rival weeds in God’s wheatfield, and the threshold of evil is set next to God’s threshold; for where good is sought, evil is present. These are the rivals of revival – those “in pursuit of the same object, striving to equal or to outdo.” (Latin rivalis, originally meaning, “one living by or using the same stream as another.”)
But then there is the Arrival of Revival. Seth, the slain Abel’s brother; Noah’s grandsons, born after the flood; Shem’s descendant, Abram; Sarah’s last laugh; the offered Isaac’s “resurrection”; Jacob’s new identity as Israel; Joseph’s revelation of himself to his brothers; the aged Jacob’s personal revival on hearing the news; Moses’ “second chance” at the burning bush; Joshua’s encounter with “the Captain of the Lord’s host”; Deborah’s victory song; Samson’s re-grown hair; David’s victory over his emotions at Ziklag; the arrival of the ark of the covenant at Mt Zion; Solomon’s glory; Elijah’s victory; Elisha’s bones; Jonah’s second call; Hezekiah’s answered prayer; Ezra’s “little revival”; Nehemiah’s preaching; Haggai’s stirring words; Job’s confession; Isaiah’s well of salvation; and many, many more.
There is Survival in times of Revival. The New World survived Noah’s drunkenness; the new generation survived Moses’ anger, and David survived his adultery. Elijah survived his self-pity, Jonah his resentment, Hezekiah his pride, Peter his denial of Jesus, the early church Herod’s persecution, John Mark his lack of commitment, and Paul the desertion of Demas.
Rival, Arrival, Survival: three aspects of Revival. Let’s remember them, as we move into what we have sought God for, so fervently, for so many years!