Today I read Deuteronomy 20, about believing God for the victory, who should go to war, and which people to spare after battle. Today I considered that God only wants confident warriors on the battlefield.
Laws About Military Service and Battle
The Israelites are told about faith, being focused, and who to engage in battle (Deuteronomy 20:1-20). When the Israelites go to war, they are not to be afraid, even if they seem outnumbered, because God is going with them. When they get close to the battleground the priest will encourage them and remind them that God is with them, will fight their enemies and save them. The officers will tell the men that have not enjoyed their completed work, not married their wife or is fearful to go home and not fight with them. The cities of the inheritance with “the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites” they are to kill anything that breathes. God does not want those people to corrupt the Israelites with their false gods. The cities far away from there if they open the gate and let the Israelites take over, their people will be Israelite servants. If the far away cities resist the Israelites, they are to kill all the males but take all the women, children, cattle, and treasures.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God wants warriors that will have faith in winning through God’s power and their minds focused on winning the battle. Israelites that would be talking about things they had not done or enjoyed like their new house, new vineyard, or betrothed wife were not to go to battle. Israelites that would talk about or be showing their fear were not to go to battle. We have to remind ourselves of prior success like David reminded himself of killing the lion and bear before facing Goliath. When we go to battle for God we have to be focused, confident and faithful to believe that through God we’ll win the battle.
What can you remind yourself of today that you completed in the past to give you the confidence to know you can face this challenge today?