Part two in a series on great generals of the past.
Hannibal.
A Carthaginian general who waged war against the Roman Empire for over a decade.
He led an army consisting of thousands of men and animals, including elephants, through the treacherous passes of the Alps. A feat which enabled him to circumvent the outlying forces of the Romans and their allies, arriving directly in the plains of Italy to meet the Romans in their own country.
In Italy his army proved a formidable enemy to Rome’s legions despite the fact that they were unable to draw supplies or reinforcements from Carthage and were therefore forced to rely solely on their conquests and the support of Italian allies.
In battle, Hannibal employed military tactics and stratagem which astonished the onlooking world and which have been employed by armed forces up to present times.
In all these accomplishments the sacrifice and diligence that was demanded of Hannibal’s soldiers was immense. The crossing of the Alps alone subjected them to the harshest of conditions. That was only the beginning of a campaign which would last a total of fifteen years. Years in which Hannibal often lacked sufficient funds to pay them.
Despite all these hardships, Hannibal’s men didn’t rise in mutiny against their commander even once. A problem which many military leaders, including his enemy, Scipio, faced from troops who had endured far less.
The records of history tell us this was due largely to the love and respect the men held for Hannibal himself.
An Attentive Leader
“Dismounting, he went at once on foot among the troops, chatting gaily with them and inquiring how they fared. After visiting all the other detachments, he came to the bivouac of the Carthaginian horse and for an hour sat talking by their fires.
“Ah!” He said as he arose to go, “the others will sleep well enough tonight; but you sybarites, accustomed to your soft couches and your luxuries will fare badly. I remember my first night on the hard ground, although ‘tis now sixteen years back, how my limbs ached and how I longed for the morning. Now, let me give you a hint how to make your beds comfortable. Mind, this is not for the future, but till your limbs get accustomed to the ground you may indulge in such luxuries. Before you try to go off to sleep note exactly where your hip bones and shoulders will rest; take your dagger and scoop out the earth at these points, so as to make depressions in which they may lie. Then spread your lion skins above them and lie down. You will sleep as comfortably as on a soft couch.”
Many of the young soldiers followed Hannibal’s advice; others, among whom was Malchus, determined to accustom themselves at once to the hard ground. Malchus was not long in getting to sleep, his last thought being that the precaution advised by Hannibal to ensure repose was altogether unnecessary. But he changed his opinion when, two or three hours later, he woke up with acute pains in his hip and shoulder. After trying vainly, by changing his position, again to go off to sleep, he rose, rolled up the skin, and set to work to make the excavations recommended by the general. Spreading out the skin he again lie down and was astonished to find how immense was the relief afforded by this simple expedient.” – G.A. Henty, The Young Carthaginian
Their Friend, the General
Hannibal Baraca demonstrated love for his troops. He personally took every care and precaution on their behalf.
Before the army set out on its great expedition, this was done through months spent in careful negotiation with the Italian tribes. Hannibal’s efforts ensured that the men would be received with hospitality, directly after they made it through the mountain range. Allowing them time to recover from the strenuous journey.
Throughout the war itself, he was known to walk through the camp often to talk with the troops. Marking their needs and hearing their grievances first hand. He was ever ready with encouragement before a battle and after he went amongst the wounded in person to see they received proper care.
In everything the troops endured, Hannibal walked with them. Ever in the heat of the battle; ever placing himself in the position most likely to be attacked.
These actions set Hannibal apart from the other generals of the time, who motivated their forces by fear or bribery. Men of high rank were usually inaccessible to the common soldier and most delegated to others the duties Hannibal performed himself.
It was an uncommon devotion and attention that Hannibal showed toward his men. By it he won their hearts.
I Have Called You Friends
Like the men enlisted in the Carthaginian army, we, as Christians, have a hard task before us.
“The cosmic powers of this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians vi. 12), the power of sin, and the propensities of our own flesh are difficult opponents.
We have been called up to fight in a worthy battle; to demonstrate through our words and actions the power and skill of an almighty God. Still it is an assignment which calls for life-long service and which goes beyond our capabilities to preform.
Thankfully, God Himself is present to command us. The impetus required for us to obey His commands comes, as it did for Hannibal’s men, from a love for our General Himself.
A General who said, “no longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John xv.15, ESV)
Introducing Our General
Jesus Christ is a leader who understands the importance of caring for His soldiers.
He descended from heaven to walk among His people. He came in person to preach the gospel, heal, comfort those who mourned, and set at liberty those who had been held in the unbreakable bonds of sin.
The God of the universe could have made us obey Him through any number of means. Yet instead of threatening violence or promising riches the Lord of heaven chose to motivate His army by His love for them.
Every soldier has access to His person and is even invited to come into His presence.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews iv. 16, NKJV)
His Heart Towards Us
The head strategist has taken the time to be among us and to mark our needs. He knows our requests even before we ask Him (Matthew vi.8 & 32). He listens to our requests, not only to appease or pacify, but because He delights to see them filled.
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke xii. 32, ESV)
Through His laws, He has given us guidance as to how we should live in even the smallest of details. Instructions that we, like Malchus, will discover are for our own good if we will allow ourselves to be guided by them.
He is ever ready to encourage us. Reminding us in the midst of the battle that He will never leave or forsake us,
“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew xxviii.20, NKJV)
He has gone ahead of us to secure the victory.
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans viii. 37 – 39, ESV)
Our General has called us as His friends. He is ever ready to hear and help us. He cares about those who are employed in His service. He loves us.
May we therefore serve Him, because we love Him.
In Christ
Quiana
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