Life
rarely unfolds in easy to
understand patterns and that leaves many wishing for step by step
instructions
showing what to do next. If
you are
facing an uncertain future, maybe this passage, written thousands
of years ago,
will help.
“When you go to war
against your
enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than
yours, do not be
afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out
of Egypt,
will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest
shall come
forward and address the army. He shall say: ‘Hear, Israel: Today
you are going
into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or
afraid; do not
panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one
who goes with
you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’
The officers
shall say to the army… ‘Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him
go home so
that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too’”
(Deuteronomy
20:1-8).
I like this passage
because it
reminds them that they are not alone.
They may think that they are, but God is always with them.
I like the fact that
God uses
several different ways to say, “Do not be afraid”. Seven times in these eight
verses they are
told to be brave and show some courage.
The way we face our battles is often as important as the
battles themselves.
I like that it is
the priest who
addresses the army first. We
would
expect a general to have the first word, but the priest is God’s
spokesperson
and he speaks first because this army and this battle belongs to
God. God is in control and
he will determine what
happens.
Lastly, I find it
interesting
that he tells the fearful to go home. When
we are afraid, we are of little use to God.
Wringing our hands and imagining all the worst outcomes not
only robs us
of the joy that we have today, but it weakens us so that we cannot
face
tomorrow correctly either.
Someone once said,
“If you don’t
know what will happen, guess positively!”
Generally, that is good advice, but for believers it is
essential.
The future may not
be clear, but
there is no need to be uncertain about God’s care for us.
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