24 "[The LORD also said,] 'Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have handed Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land over to you. Begin to take possession [of it]; engage him in battle. 25 Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you, tremble, and be in anguish because of you.' – Deuteronomy 2:24-25
How many of you know that when God hands your enemy over to you, your victory is sealed? God never sends us into a situation that will result in our failure. He promises that He will not allow our enemies to put us to shame. He guarantees that our enemies will not triumph over us. When God sends us into a place or circumstance, it is because the outcome is already determined—we win!
Although the outcomes of our battles are determined by God, we still are required to get on the field and reinforce God’s spoken promise of victory. This is heavily chronicled in the Torah or Pentateuch. If you’re expecting to kick your feet up while others do all the work, you are sorely mistaken. Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. We do not have the luxury of remaining stagnant in our thought or deeds. The Almighty God is commanding us to get up off our behinds, move forward and go where God sends us. While some battles—like with Gideon—may not require us to pick up a weapon, others call for more combative methods. God tells the people to possess their inheritance and engage the enemy in battle.
We have an enemy whose sole purpose is to rob, kill, destroy or distract us. He is not going to give up without a fight. In truth, neither will we. When God sends us into the battle, He always goes ahead of us to make sure we have the advantage. What an awesome God He is! In this passage, God began to ignite fear in the heart of the enemy so that when the people showed up, fear, chaos and retreat showed up too.
Battles are not pretty. If you’re looking for a place to sit back, relax or sip on your favorite iced beverage, then this is not the place for you. The battlefield is not the place to make friends, play nice or goof around. Battles can be fierce, long and draining. Often times there are casualties. Some people who started out with you may not be there when the smoke clears. Some people may turn their back on you. In battles, people get wounded and sometimes they are victims of friendly fire. This is why it is important to have your marching orders before you get on the field. Know what you’re fighting for and why you’re fighting.
When God sends you into the battle, know that you even though you are in the trenches, victory is yours.
How many of you know that when God hands your enemy over to you, your victory is sealed? God never sends us into a situation that will result in our failure. He promises that He will not allow our enemies to put us to shame. He guarantees that our enemies will not triumph over us. When God sends us into a place or circumstance, it is because the outcome is already determined—we win!
Although the outcomes of our battles are determined by God, we still are required to get on the field and reinforce God’s spoken promise of victory. This is heavily chronicled in the Torah or Pentateuch. If you’re expecting to kick your feet up while others do all the work, you are sorely mistaken. Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. We do not have the luxury of remaining stagnant in our thought or deeds. The Almighty God is commanding us to get up off our behinds, move forward and go where God sends us. While some battles—like with Gideon—may not require us to pick up a weapon, others call for more combative methods. God tells the people to possess their inheritance and engage the enemy in battle.
We have an enemy whose sole purpose is to rob, kill, destroy or distract us. He is not going to give up without a fight. In truth, neither will we. When God sends us into the battle, He always goes ahead of us to make sure we have the advantage. What an awesome God He is! In this passage, God began to ignite fear in the heart of the enemy so that when the people showed up, fear, chaos and retreat showed up too.
Battles are not pretty. If you’re looking for a place to sit back, relax or sip on your favorite iced beverage, then this is not the place for you. The battlefield is not the place to make friends, play nice or goof around. Battles can be fierce, long and draining. Often times there are casualties. Some people who started out with you may not be there when the smoke clears. Some people may turn their back on you. In battles, people get wounded and sometimes they are victims of friendly fire. This is why it is important to have your marching orders before you get on the field. Know what you’re fighting for and why you’re fighting.
When God sends you into the battle, know that you even though you are in the trenches, victory is yours.
©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved
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