In
Deuteronomy chapter 20, God gives His unusual plan for preparing for
battle. First, God puts things into proper perspective; “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
who brought you out of Egypt will be with you“.
Like Israel, most of us can point to times when God has been
faithful before, to serve as a reminder that He will be faithful in
today’s battle as well. As we face the day-to-day battles in our
lives, we need to be reminded, “He
that began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it”
(Philippians 1:6). The chapter continues, “When
you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and
address the army. He shall say: Today you are going into battle
against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid… for the
Lord your God is with you to fight for you against your enemies“.
Romans 8:31 asks rhetorically, “If
God is for us, who can be against us?”
The priests speak first to remind all of us, there is always a
spiritual battle that must be overcome before the physical battle can
be won.
Next,
the military men are to speak to the army and God’s purpose is to
send home the half-hearted. “The
officers shall say to the army: ‘Has anyone built a house and not
dedicated it? Let him go home… has anyone planted a vineyard and
not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home… Has anyone become pledged
to a woman and not married her? Let him go home… Is any man afraid
or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers do not become
disheartened too’.”
Clearly, as we engage in our daily battles we need to identify the
doubters that continually remind us of our past defeats. 2 Timothy
1:9 reminds us that our confidence is in our merciful God, “God,
who saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we
have done but because of His own purposes and grace“.
Send home those that distract you from putting your trust in Christ.
Finally,
God establishes the plan for conquest. For the cities in the
neighboring nations, Moses explains, “Make
its people an offer of peace. If they accept and open their gates,
all the people shall be subject to forced labor… if they refuse to
make peace… put the sword to all the men in it. As for the women
and children and the livestock, you make take these as plunder for
yourselves“.
Next we read there are different rules for the cities in the
Promised Land, “However,
in the cities of the nation the Lord has given to you as an
inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely
destroy them.”
And we are told why, “Otherwise
they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in
worshipping their gods and you will sin against the Lord your God“.
Guys, we have got to take special care to make sure we are vigilant
to guard our home with a much greater scrutiny. God used the nation
of Israel to condemn and judge the sins of the idolaters in Canaan.
God does not tolerate anyone corrupting His kids and neither should
we!