The Five Kings from the Orient

We’re currently on an intensive one month summer course at the University of Lisbon which includes Portuguese culture as well as language. Today we had a potted history of the Islamic conquest of the region of the Iberian peninsula, later to become Portugal, by the Moors in the 12th century and the struggles of the early Portuguese leaders to retake their territory. One key battle took place on St James Day 1139, the Battle of Ourique, in which Prince Afonso Henrique vanquished five kings of the Moors, and was thereby proclaimed Afonso I, the first king of Portugal.

Over time the event has acquired a number of accompanying legends, especially concerning the possibility of divine intervention. Saint James the Great (the disciple of Jesus, called in Portuguese Santo Iago) is said to have appeared from Heaven and helped the Portuguese win the day. Whether or not that little bit of information is true, one mystery that surrounds the whole battle is the fact that Ourique is located in the southern part of present day Portugal, way down toward the Algarve, deep into enemy territory and some 150 km beyond the line that divided the Moors from the Portuguese. It would have required a raid of spectacular daring and ingenuity to have penetrated so far south and managed to inflict so much damage. But there you have it. The event is enshrined even in the coat of arms in the centre of the Portuguese flag – the five shields in the centre are supposed to represent the five Moorish kings.

For me it’s a lesson on being bold, taking impossible risks and showing true daring when you believe strongly enough in something. When Joshua was handed the near impossible task of leading a huge multitude of people across the Jordan river and into territory already occupied by a wide range of different peoples, he needed to have a huge sense of purpose and confidence in God.

And in the book of Joshua we read how God encourages Johua to believe:

"Moses my servant is dead.
Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River
into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river,
the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west.
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1: 2-5

Amazing words, and more amazing still when you realise and understand that the God who led Joshua on that amazing journey, continues to lead people like us, continues to make solid and lasting promises, and continues to grant success to those who trust and wholly lean on Him!!