When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 20:1)

Many years ago there was a popular song that contained this lyric: “I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine; there’s gotta be a little rain sometime.” Our God has certainly given His people “exceedingly great and precious promises,” however, He never said that life would be an easy thing. To the contrary, Messiah said that, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). The path that leads to life and blessing is a narrow one — indeed, a troublesome one — and very often we find ourselves facing an enemy who seeks to bar the path to the blessing. More often than not, that enemy appears to be greater and mightier than we are.

I’d go so far as to say that, very often, God purposely brings us into these difficult situations. That is certainly the way it was with ancient Israel. They were always facing enemies greater than they, and yet, He always told them not to fear but to trust that He was with them. When it came time for Israel to cross the Jordan into Canaan, God didn’t magically remove the giants their parents had feared; He told Israel to face the giants and overcome them “for the LORD your God is with you.” Those who believed Him overcame and took that land away from their enemies.

If it is true that God often leads His people into these difficult situations (and I believe it is), it has to be that He wants to reveal who will trust Him and take Him at His Word. Too often, we hear people make great claims as to their willingness to trust God only to see them melt away under the first hint of pressure. Those who possess the promise are those who truly believe God and are willing to face the enemies that He allows to cross our path, no matter how strong and mighty they appear to be. If we trust Him completely, we shall see that He is above all and, consequently, our enemies are incapable of standing against Him. And so, regardless of the size of the enemy or his camp, we can overcome because Messiah has overcome the world. As Paul declared, “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.”

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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