Hannibal Baraca – Loved by His Troops

The Great General Series – Part 2

Hannibal was a Carthaginian general who waged war against the Roman Empire for more than a decade. He led an army of thousands of men and animals, including elephants, through the treacherous passes of the Alps. A feat that 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. Here his army proved a formidable enemy to Rome’s legions though, unable to draw supplies or reinforcements from Carthage, they were forced to rely solely on their conquests and the support of their Italian allies. In battle, Hannibal employed military tactics and stratagem that astonished the onlooking world and which have been employed by armed forces up to present times.

In 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 and this was only the beginning of a campaign that lasted a total of fifteen years. Years in which their general would often  have lacked sufficient funds to pay them. Despite all these hardships, not once did Hannibal’s men rise in mutiny against their commander - a problem that many military leaders, including his enemy, Scipio, faced from troops who had endured far less. The records of history tell us that this was due largely to the love and respect that the men held for Hannibal himself.

“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

Hannibal Baraca demonstrated love for his troops by personally taking every care and precaution on their behalf. Before the army set out on its great expedition, this was demonstrated through the months that he spent in careful negotiation with the Italian tribes. His efforts ensured that the men would be received with hospitality, directly after they made it through the mountain range and allowed them time to recover from the strenuous journey. Throughout the war itself he was known to often walk through the camp and talk with the troops. Marking their needs and hearing their grievances first hand. He was ever prepared with encouragement for them before any great effort and after the completion of a battle he went among the wounded in person to see that they received proper care. In all that the troops endured Hannibal walked through it with them; ever in the heat of the battle; ever placing himself in the position most likely to be attacked. These actions distinguished him from the other generals of the time, who were accustomed to motivating their forces by fear or bribery. Men of high rank were generally inaccessible to the common soldier and most delegated to those under them the duties that Hannibal performed himself. It was through the uncommon devotion and attention that he showed toward his men that Hannibal won their hearts.

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 hard enemies to fight against. 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 that calls for life – long service and which goes beyond our capabilities to preform. Thankfully, God Himself is present to command and more than sufficient to overcome such foes. 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 first loved us and gave Himself for us.

The Son of God is a leader who understands the importance of caring for His soldiers. As was demonstrated by William Wallace in last week’s post it is for our sake, not His own, that He has gone to battle. Jesus proclaimed this Himself, at the very start of His earthly ministry, when He read from the book of the prophet Isaiah:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke iv.17)

 Jesus explained to the people that He was the fulfillment of all that the prophets had written; the fullness of every promise from God the Father. He preached the gospel, healed the people, comforted those who mourned, and set at liberty those who had been held in the unbreakable bonds of sin. All for us – for those who have the privilege of being named in the ranks His army. The God of the universe could compel men to follow Him and to carry out His orders through any number of means. Yet instead of threatening violence or promising riches the Lord of heaven motivates His army through 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)

The head strategist takes the time to be among us and to mark our needs; so that He knows our requests even before we ask Him (Matthew vi. 8&32). He listens to our requests, not only to appease or to 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)

Through His laws, He has given us guidance as to how we should live even in the smallest of details. Instructions that we, like Malchus, will discover are for our own good if we will but 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 28:20)

and that the victory is already secured,

"Yet 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)

Our General, our King, has looked on us as His friends and has served us. He is ever ready to hear us and help us for He cares about those who are employed in His service. May we thus remember that we serve Him because we love Him.

In Christ

quiana