Winning the Battles

Day 57

Reading: Deut. 20:1 - 23:25

Life is warfare, not fanfare. Life's winners walk constantly knowing the principles of warfare. They understand that when it's time to engage the enemy one must be prepared. The children of Israel were about to enter the land and the next stage of possessing the land would not be about talking about the promise but actually contending for the land. God gave Moses the rules of engagement as follows:

1. Do not fear or be afraid. Fear will cause your enemy to ride over you. 'Fear not' is said in the Bible 365 times. 
2. Do not let your heart faint. The Hebrew word used for faint in Deut. 20:3 means to melt away. This is a depressing state that many today including me have allowed. God desires that I stand up to confront the challenges ahead.
3. Do not tremble. The Hebrew word used here connotes that not only do you fear but in a hurry, you flee the battle in alarm.  You must stand against the enemy.  
4. Don't be terrified by the enemy. The enemy should not make you shake like a reed. 
5. Do not forget God is with you no matter the enemy you face.
6. Family values were important and thus to be considered in deciding who was going to fight. No engaged men, no new homeowners and no new landowners would be allowed to go to war. 
7. Anyone fearful or fainthearted would be asked to leave the battleground.
8. Fight only if the people refuse your offer of peace, making them slaves to you. For business owners, when you take over a company before going for a hostile takeover try buying the business first through negotiations. 
9. Do not cut off the sources of food when contending to take over a place. 

One reason I believe the world is having many challenges is that of the shed blood of the innocent people. Blood is precious to God.  Blood is never to be eaten. So when innocent people are slain their blood brings condemnation to the land. The Law required that atonement was done to cleanse the land of such acts. By the word of the priests, every matter would be settled. Those who are given to serving God would have the final say on earthly disputes. God gave authority to those serving Him that was divinely instituted and no law of man could overcome it.  Child of God, understand the level of authority you have as a priest of God. You are the final arbiter on earthly matters. 

Inheritance law was addressed in the Law of God also. We have already seen how a family with no sons didn't mean that the father's land was given away. The family name had to be perpetuated. In our reading today God addressed the blessing of the firstborn. A father could not disinherit the firstborn of the unloved wife in favour of the loved one. 

A rebellious son was to be stoned to death. As I read this I said Lord that's mean. Imagine a whole city stoning the son to death because he didn't listen to his parents and that he was a drunkard. I then began to wonder how many sons have already been stoned to death by society because they have failed their parents. They may still be walking amongst us however society may have stoned them pronouncing a curse on behalf of God over their lives. 

Moses reminded the children of Israel of many laws. The miscellaneous laws make an intersting reading that reveals how much God was interested in our lives being pure and right not only to Him but also one to another. Sexual morality is of great importance to God.  

Memory Verse: Deut 20:3-4

Decree:

Personalise these scriptures.

‘Hear, Charles: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ Deut 20:3-4( italics mine personalised)