Where did I get the idea God fights for me?
I read what Moses said to the Israelites. “…Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest” (Exodus 14:13-14).
After Moses spoke those words, the Lord told him to tell the people to go forward.
A brief historical review: the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt until God raised up Moses to deliver them. He went to Pharaoh to negotiate their release, but he refused to let them go. After God sent ten plagues, the last being the death of every first-born son in Egypt (even the first-born of the cattle), he agreed to let them go. Then he changed his mind, summoned his army, and pursued them.
Of course the Israelites were afraid—the army behind them, the river before them. They must have wondered, “How on earth could even God deliver us?”
The Lord always has a plan, and sometimes his methods make me smile. Click To TweetThe Lord always has a plan, and sometimes his methods make me smile.
He “…caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land; and the waters were divided. And the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left” (v. 21-22).
The Egyptians pursued them and in the morning the Lord “discomfited [them]. And bound (clogged, took off) their chariot wheels, making them drive heavily; and the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians…
“Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen…the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and shook them off into the midst of the sea…
“Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore” (see Exodus 14: 23-30).
Why am I smiling? Our Creator God is so…creative! He threw the army into confusion and “made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving” (NIV).
The margins of my Bible have numerous notations, “God fights.” When the Israelites took possession of the land God had promised, they faced many battles, but God assured them the victory lay in his hands.
Moses addressed the people. “…You are now to cross the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you…Know therefore this day that the Lord your God is He Who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall dispossess them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you” (Deuteronomy 9:3).
Before turning leadership over to Joshua, Moses said to the Israelites, “The Lord your God will Himself go over before you, and He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them…Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you” (see Deuteronomy 31:3-6).
To Joshua he said, “Be strong, courageous, and firm…It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm]” (see Deuteronomy 31:7 -8).
“And [the Lord] charged Joshua son of Nun, Be strong and courageous and firm, for you shall bring the Israelites into the land which I swore to give them, and I will be with you” (Deuteronomy 31:23).
God still fights for his people. Are you in a battle today? In your impossible circumstance have you wondered, “How on earth could even God deliver me?”
Are you in a battle today? In your impossible circumstance have you wondered, “How on earth could even God deliver me? Click To TweetTake a moment to look back and list times God has fought for you. Rest assured he’s able today to do whatever you need.
“Impossibility is the very atmosphere of miracle—it is miracle in its first stage. If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty but impossibility” (Streams in the Desert Oct. 14).
Doubtful? Remember what the Lord said to Moses. “…Has the Lord’s hand (His ability and power) become short (thwarted and inadequate)? You shall see now whether My word shall come to pass for you or not” (Numbers 11:23).
God’s assurance for us today: The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.
God’s assurance for us today: The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. Click To TweetRest! Even when you’re between an army and the sea, knowing—if he has to—he’ll clog the enemy’s chariot wheels!
Tell me about an occasion when God fought for you, leaving no doubt he did it. And please share this with your friends!
Scriptures from The Amplified Bible.
© Dianne Barker 2019
2 responses to “God Fights for Me—Another Truth that Leads to Rest”
Such truth! Thank you for your wonderful post, Dianne. I learned the truth of how God fights for us when I experienced an attack from the enemy many years ago. I call it my Judas Experience. God rescued me from claws that tried to take my very life. God answered me from His Word and through dreams that gave me wisdom to endure the attack that lasted for several years, taking twists and turns. God delivered me from evil. Now I know that He truly saves His anointed. My relationship with Jesus reached a new depth for which I’m truly grateful and wouldn’t trade for the world.
Karen, thank you so much for sharing this. Our amazing God always brings good out of our darkest times. Seeing him fight for us and overcome the enemy’s tactics leads us to declare his praise! He will never fail us!