Deuteronomy 1:30 ESV
The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.
Moses’s encouragement to the Israelites in his time is the same encouragement to us today that the Lord is always ahead of us to fight for us.
In this world of instant news, there are many things that frighten us. We fear natural disasters, terrorists, accidents, and wars. We know that God is in control but watching the news can bring us to a state of anxiety and crippling fear.
When the Israelites heard about the people in Canaan, they were fearful too. They felt the same fear we do today—an irrational fear. After all, isn’t all fear irrational? The punishment for their irrational fear was a lifetime wandering the desert. God was ready to give them the promised land, but their fear gave them the desert.
When we watch the next news story about a tragedy or disaster, we can remember that God promises his presence no matter what we encounter. Trusting God means taking our fears head-on and moving to a place of peace.
God’s promises to us are true and lasting and because He’s with and will fight for us, we can overcome our fears.
He will not only fight for us, but He will always be our protector and fortress say the scriptures, even for those around you.
There are battles we do not engage in, not because we wouldn’t know what to do but mainly because our strength will fail due to the length of the battle, we may run out of ammunition and resources to fight with, or we may not know the best strategy to defeat our foes.
Judges 6 gives an incredible account of the most decisive action in war ever known to man. No weapon as it was evidenced but the battle was won partly because of obedience to godly instruction and trusting in divine strategy. Basically, God fought for Israel.
In what world would a war be won with a few men and pans plus sticks? Only in God’s world. There was no question that God gave the 300 men army of Israel victory over the 135,000 men army of Midian in Judges 7:8-21. God fought and fights for His own.
1 Samuel 17 records the battle between the shepherd boy David and the well-trained soldier who was defeated with mere stones and a sling. Goliath did not believe in Israel’s God and therefore mocked God, the God who gave Israel victory without them fighting in the battle.
God encouraged the children of Israel not to be afraid when they see their enemy come against them- the same way He encourages us today to have total confidence in His ability to fight for us and deliver us in the face of adversity in Deuteronomy 20:1.
You have the assurance that the Lord goes before you to be a comforter and protector when you’re distressed. You don’t need to fight a battle or go to war to win the fight, because God will fight for you.
But you must remember to turn to the Lord and let Him help you to always remember that in times of trouble you are never alone, the Lord your God will fight for you.
Shalom