Originally posted: 08/03/2019
“When you go out to battle against your enemies…” (20:1).
There is no denying the fact; God’s people will go into battle. Moses, the man of God, did not say “If,” but “When.”
God’s enemies were set against Him and His people, and war was inevitable. However, God prepared His people for war by calling His people to view the impending battles, not by human judgment, but through His eternal view and foreknowledge. His Analysis of the coming events would be all that His children would need to successfully engage in the unavoidable warfare.
Consider His Analysis
- His Analysis of the enemy: he is a feeble opponent.
- “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you,” (20:1).
- His Analysis of the outcome: the victory is guaranteed.
- “Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, 4 for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you,” (20:3-4).
- His Analysis of distractions: make no allowance for them.
- “Who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him depart and return to his house… 6 Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house… 7 And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house…” (20:5-7).
- His Analysis of fear: it will affect others.
- “Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart,” (20:8).
- His Analysis of sin: it must never be tolerated but utterly destroyed.
- “But you shall utterly destroy them… as the Lord your God has commanded you, 18 so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the Lord your God,” (20:17-18).
How do we respond to His Analysis?
Some things never change, and warfare is one. It is not “if” but “when” we go into battle. As believers, we have a significant advantage over the children of Israel; we have been raised up with Christ, have received His Holy Spirit Who lives within us, and are thereby enabled to set our minds on the things above.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth, (Colossians 3:1-2).
He has given us all we need in Christ to be successful in warfare. When we attempt to assess situations apart from what He has said, we encounter defeat. Let us always set our minds on the things above through the truth of His Word; and by faith, may we always know and agree with His Analysis.
- His Analysis of the enemy: he is a feeble opponent and will be destroyed.
- the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil, (1 John 3:8).
- His Analysis of the outcome: our victory is guaranteed in the Lord Jesus.
- The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you, (Romans 16:20).
- His Analysis of distractions: make no allowance for anything that encumbers or entangles.
- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, (Hebrews 12:1-2).
- His Analysis of fear: let us refuse to give in to fear, rather may we receive His peace and become a source of encouragement to others.
- “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful,” (John 14:27).
- Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing, (1Thessalonians 5:11).
- His Analysis of sin: may we never tolerate sin, but let us submit in faith to His Holy Spirit that sin would be utterly destroyed in our lives.
- …knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (Romans 6:6).
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please, (Galatians 5:16-17).
- Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside… 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (Colossians 3:5-9).
- As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, (1 Peter 1:14).
As we intentionally remind ourselves of His Analysis, and by faith face every battle according to the Truth of Who He is and who we are in Him, we will be strengthened with all we need to successfully overcome.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world, (1 John 4:4).