³ “Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, ⁴ for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3–4)

Life is filled with battles. Children fight over toys; adolescents compete over athletics, appearances, popularity, gaming skills. Families battle over slights, selfishness, arrogance—the list goes go on. There are workplace power struggles and neighborhood fights over noisy parties, unkempt lawns, parking encroachments and boundary lines—all added to private battles against failing health, financial problems and personal demons. Yes, life is filled with battles.

This passage is a help to all who are “fainthearted,” who are “afraid, or panic, or tremble” in the face of adversity. That means all of us at one time or another. Those who claim never to experience these kinds of reactions have a faux self-competence and would do well to learn from Israel, who went into battle without seeking the Lord’s guidance or help, resulting in complete disaster and overwhelming hardship.

In today’s passage, Israel—preparing to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the desert—was being instructed on how to ready themselves for the expected battles. The conflicts would be intense, for the land was filled with extremely immoral, decadent people who had been settled there for centuries. God warned Israel, “… every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods” (Deut 12:31). The people of Canaan would not go down easily.

Israel was not to fear or shrink back or try to avoid the conflict. They were rather to face up to it, for they were on a mission from God to take the land. They were to be on the offensive, not the defensive. They did not need to fear the battle because “the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” They were to be certain of their mission and who was going with them: the Lord.

So also today, Christians have been commissioned to go out into the world to make disciples and have received the same promise from Jesus, “ … and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20). No personal or interpersonal conflict can halt the progress of the Great Commission—nothing but fear of the battle. So let us not fear, for God is with us. Let us boldly move out into the world on our assignment from God.

Lord, I have nothing to fear, for You are with me. No battle can stop me.