Today's reading: Deuteronomy 20; Revelation 22
Moses' instructions for Israel about going to battle have an important challenge for us today in them.
The opening commands of Deuteronomy 20 only make sense if Yahweh is both real, and more powerful than the gods of every other nation. To the ancient mind, warfare was as much about your god as it was about your weapons and tactics. Clearly weapons and tactics made a difference, but even those were seen as a blessing of the nation's god(s) to empower them in war. So generally, if you won the battle, that either meant the opposing people's gods were more powerful than yours, or that you had angered your gods or something so that they weren't fighting for you.
So when Moses tells them that even when they go out against a larger and more advanced army they aren't to be afraid, the reasoning is that Lord is with them. Moses also reminds them, once again, that this is the same God who brought them out of Egypt, and this is important here. When they were brought out of Egypt, the Israelites didn't lift a finger to win that fight. God brought plagues down upon Egypt until Pharaoh relented and let Israel go, and then when Pharaoh pulled his army together to chase after them, God Himself blocked their army from advancing until He had brought Israel through the water, and then He brought the waters back down on the Egyptian army killing every one of their pursuers. Yahweh has proven that He is able to win great victories, against even the strongest of nations, without the people even having to fight, so how much more so when they are fighting alongside Him??
So this instruction in Deuteronomy 20 is a question of faith to the people of Israel. "Do you believe that God is who he says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do?" And really, it's as simple as that. If Yahweh is truly the God of all gods, then no nation or army could possibly stand against Him. And if God can be counted on to keep His promises and fight for His people, then He will fight for His people in every battle. Israel cannot lose, and so Moses is calling on them to act out of this reality.
Like so many steps of faith though, this is much easier said than done. It is easy for me to read this and think, "Yeah, of course they have every reason to trust God and march into battle with confidence," but I'm not the one with a sword in my hand facing down a larger and better equipped army. What's great though is that we do have examples of those who did take God up on this. Go read 1 Samuel 4 about Jonathan and his armor bearer taking on the Philistine garrison, or go read 1 Chronicles 11 about David and his mighty men performing truly miraculous feats in battle. None of these are presented as just great, epic warriors under their own power, but as men who trusted that God was fighting with and for them, and so they could go out boldly, regardless of how terrible the odds would have otherwise been.
And this is why I say there is a challenge for us to day in this as well because we have the same God.
Obviously we are not a theocracy, and God has not promised Christians that He will give us military victory over our enemies, but the Scriptures are full of promises that He does make to us and that we can count on Him for. So the question is, does the way you live line up with the God you say you follow? Are there areas in your life where God is telling you to trust Him, but you are keeping back from the front lines of the battle because you just don't see how it would work out without Him, and you're not convinced He will actually come through? And if so, what would it look like for you to give Him the chance to show you today that you really can count on Him, no matter how scary that might be?
God, you are good, you are trustworthy, and there is nothing beyond your power and ability. Convince me more of that today, and give me the chance to step out in trust and let you show me how faithful you truly are.
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