Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”
Deuteronomy 1:29-31 NIV
As Israel prepared to finally enter into the promised land, after their 40 years in the wilderness, Moses spent time recounting their recent history. Especially their failure to enter the land the first time they had come to it. And in this passage, he reminded them of the encouragement he had offered in response to their fear. An encouragement that they had rejected. But encouragement that was just as applicable to them now as it was then. And, I believe, just as relevant to his people today.
We do not need to fear those who stand opposed to us. As the Lord fought for Israel in Egypt, the wilderness, and the conquest of the land, so he will fight for us today. He may use us in the fight, as he did Israel in the battles in the wilderness and the conquest. Or we may sit and watch as Israel did in Egypt. But whether we are actively engaged in the fight or not, we can trust that the battle is the Lord’s.
We may be injured in the battle. We may even lose all we have, including our lives. But, as a father carries his son, we can trust that God will carry us all the way to the land he has promised us. Regardless of what happens to us here, the promised land awaits us. And that should give us all the courage we need to face our enemies unafraid.
