38 lines
4.2 KiB
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38 lines
4.2 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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August 31
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<h1>Moses Pointing to the Lord for Battle</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of <b>battle</b> with your enemies; do <b>not</b> let your heart <b>faint</b>, do <b>not</b> be <b>afraid</b>, and do <b>not tremble</b> or be <b>terrified</b> because of them; for the LORD your God is <b>He who goes with you</b>, to <b>fight for you</b> <b>against your enemies</b>, to save you.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 20, '3-4');">Deuteronomy 20:3-4</a>)</div>
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<p>Moses is another example of those who <b>lived by grace</b> in the Old Testament. He knew the necessity of relying upon the sufficiency of God, instead of upon the inadequate resources of man. One illustration of this is seen when he <b>pointed Israel to the Lord for battle</b>.</p>
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<p>When the children of Israel would enter into the Promised Land, innumerable battles would lie before them. These battles were inevitable, since godless nations had entrenched themselves in the land: <i>"because of the <b>wickedness</b> of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 9, '5-5');">Deuteronomy 9:5</a>). Thus, the history of Israel documents one battle after another.</p>
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<p>Moses announced the truth that the people of the Lord need to hear as the battle draws near. <i>"Today you are on the verge of <b>battle</b> with your enemies; do <b>not</b> let your heart <b>faint</b>, do <b>not</b> be <b>afraid</b>, and do <b>not tremble</b> or be <b>terrified</b> because of them."</i> So often, when the warfare appears, the foe seems invincible: <i>"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people <b>more numerous than you</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 20, '1-1');">Deuteronomy 20:1</a>). The natural temptation is to <i>"<b>faint</b> …be <b>afraid</b>…<b>tremble</b> or be <b>terrified</b>."</i> Another temptation is to try to match the enemy horse for horse and chariot for chariot. The Scriptures warn of the futility of turning to worldly resources. <i>"<b>Woe</b> to those who go down to Egypt for help, and <b>rely on horses</b>, who <b>trust in chariots</b> because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do <b>not</b> look to the <b>Holy One</b> of Israel"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 31, '1-1');">Isaiah 31:1</a>).</p>
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<p>Moses knew that God's people need a reminder that the Lord wants to be our hope. When we must go into the battles of life, the Lord accompanies us. <i>"For the LORD your God is <b>He who goes with you</b>."</i> He is with us not only to comfort us, but also to battle on our behalf: <i>"to <b>fight for you against your enemies</b>, to <b>save</b> you."</i> The Lord can fight for His people in an unlimited variety of ways. He can change the hearts of those who oppose us. He can bring their plans to naught. He can trap them in their own evil plans. He can cause our enemies to turn and devour one another. He can effectively <b>save</b> us in <b>any</b> manner that <b>He</b> chooses.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord, my Defender, I face many battles that leave me intimidated and fearful. My hope is often placed in my own worldly strategies or the help that man can offer. Lord, I look to You afresh to fight for me and to rescue me any way You choose, for Your glory and honor, Amen.</div>
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