“Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4 CSB)
What is the “enemy” that we, as Christians, face? In a word: Satan. He is our enemy. But not just Satan, all the “expressions” of Satan become our enemy as well. For example, the enemy is sin, such things as pride, fearfulness, and all of those vices listed in the Ten Commandments. The Bible makes it very clear what sin is, and sin is what Satan tempts us toward.
The words of the verse above were focused on a different enemy, of course, one that was somewhat more tangible. The people were poised to pounce on the Promised Land. They would face enemies with swords and spears, armies larger than their own. But the priest was to say the words of this verse to the people, to remind them that God would go before them and fight for them and give them the victory. They were to go forth in faith.
We are not in a physical fight per se, but there is a spiritual warfare going on. We can take the same promise applied then and apply it now. The Lord our God goes with us to fight against our enemies to give us the victory. Our strength is His strength. Our victory will be His victory. Sin and any other expression of Satan can be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of all those who come to faith in Jesus. It is the authority of His Name that leads us to victory, and we simply need to follow Him in faith.
Lord, Guide us this day in the way of faith and faithfulness, and lead us on to the victory You have for us. Amen.
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