A God who Fights

July 26, 2011 in Living our Faith with 23 Appreciated Comments

Last week, as I was preparing for our last Czech youth retreat session, I ran across a verse that I cannot get out of my heart:

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14

I’m sure you know the story.

The children of Israel had just left Egypt, rejoicing in the fact that God had finally answered their prayers and was bringing them out of slavery. They were excited, praising Him for His goodness, and were able to collect money and valuables from the Egyptians as they left.

But then they came up against the Red Sea…and noticed that Pharaoh, and all of the Egyptian army, was after them.

They were boxed in, had no weapons to defend themselves, and wondered why God would bring them out into the desert just to kill them.

And just as it seemed that all hope was lost, God gives Moses a promise:

Be still. I will fight for you.

The God of all creation, the God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand promised that He would fight for the Israelites. He would stand up against the Egyptian army. He would defeat the Israelite’s enemies. He would make sure they were safe. And they only needed to be still.

It’s a promise I needed to hear again.

No matter what I’m facing, no matter what obstacle comes in my way, no matter what enemy or hardship or sin I’m facing, my God will fight for me.

And He’ll fight for you, too.

Because that’s who He is.

A warrior. Protector. Father.

When He gives us a promise, when He sees our enemies overtaking us, He will do whatever it takes to make sure we have the victory.

But that doesn’t mean we can just sit around and do nothing.

Many Christians have this idea that being still and allowing God to fight for them means that they can do, well, nothing. Say a few prayers. Ask God to take care of the situation. Plead with Him a little and stand back and watch as God does His thing.

It sounds good, but it’s not really true.

Right after God gives the Israelites this promise that they only need to be still and He would fight for them, He says something else to Moses:

“Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” Exodus 14:15

Because being still and waiting on God to fight for us doesn’t mean we can do nothing. It doesn’t give us permission to sit back, twiddle our thumbs and wait for the blessings and provision to fall out of the sky.

We have a role to play.

God didn’t want the Israelites crying out to Him. He didn’t want them standing around waiting for Him to do something.

He told them to move on.
Push forward.
Step into the sea even when it seemed the last thing that would help them.

And He would fight for them.

Because God promises to fight for us when we choose to obey and move forward, trusting that He will take care of our enemies.

About Jason Vana: Jason is an imaginative leader with a heart to ignite younger generations to impact the world for Christ. He currently lives in Monmouth, Illinois, and oversees Ignite Student Ministries - a dynamic ministry to ignite youth, young adults and university students to passionately pursue Christ and transform society in high schools, work places and universities around the world.

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Anonymous

Thank you for this. I needed this today. It’s always amazing to me how God takes someones blog sometimes to get my attention and remind me of something that I needed to know. So, thank you for being God’s voice today.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

April, I’m glad my words were able to encourage you today. It’s definitely something I’ve needed to hear this past week myself. Most times when I preach or write, I’m writing what I need to hear myself, and hope that it helps others as well.

Anonymous

I do the same thing. I figure if God needed me to hear it, he needed someone else to hear it too.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

Exactly! And the crazy thing is, I’ve seen it’s true time and again, which is why I keep writing.

Anonymous

Same here and that’s always so cool to me!

http://compellingparade.com Ryan Tate

Amen!

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

Thanks!

http://www.endlessimpact.com jasonS

Yeah, I love this story. He gives us the word and grace then the instruction. It’s still a step of faith, but He’s already set the stage to launch us into victory. Great reminder, Jason! Thanks.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

That’s the biggest thing – it really is all by faith. We may not see God fighting for us, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t.

http://www.betachristian.net Moe

I love that verse. I’m also glad that you put it in its correct context. Just cause He fights for us does not mean that we are to sit still and just do nothing. We have an obligation to strive forward and keep moving. Good reminder Jason.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

I think that’s the biggest thing we tend to miss – waiting on God, being still before Him doesn’t mean we just sit around twiddling our thumbs waiting for Him to move. We have our part to play. Sometimes it is just praying and believing. Sometimes it’s getting off our butts and taking a step trusting that God will move when we need Him to.

Ashlee Eidson

Great post, Jason!
It was definitely a word of encouragement that I needed.

Thanks!

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

Thanks Nikki! I’m glad it encouraged you today.

http://duane-Scott.net/ Duane Scott

I was impressed with the fact that you offered the Hope God gives… that He’ll fight for us.

But I was most impressed you didn’t stop there. That we still need to do what we can.

The most common thing I hear Christian’s say, “It was a closed door.”

And what I like to say, “Really? I’m sorry. Keep knocking on doors. And pray. But keep knocking. Because that job you’re looking for? That relationship you want? That injury you’re trying to recover from? Well, you’ll have a whole lot better chance of getting it when you keep trying to do what you can and leave the rest to God.”

Definitely one of your top posts, dude.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

Wow bro, thanks. That really means a lot.

And I know what you mean. Sometimes God does a close a door (I’ve definitely had that happen). But sometimes it’s more of a – you need to just keep pushing through if you want to see this happen. It may take time. It may not happen as you thought it would. But that doesn’t mean we just sit down and do nothing.

It’s pretty much what I’ve experienced with doing ministry in Czech. God closed one door that I really thought was “the way” over there. But I didn’t stop (even when I felt like He was done with me there) and I know the real door will open soon.

http://duane-Scott.net/ Duane Scott

That’s a great example.

I’m glad you did keep pushing on those doors.

It brought a whole new depth to your writing and I’m loving it.

http://duane-Scott.net/ Duane Scott

I was impressed with the fact that you offered the Hope God gives… that He’ll fight for us.

But I was most impressed you didn’t stop there. That we still need to do what we can.

The most common thing I hear Christian’s say, “It was a closed door.”

And what I like to say, “Really? I’m sorry. Keep knocking on doors. And pray. But keep knocking. Because that job you’re looking for? That relationship you want? That injury you’re trying to recover from? Well, you’ll have a whole lot better chance of getting it when you keep trying to do what you can and leave the rest to God.”

Definitely one of your top posts, dude.
http://duane-Scott.net/ Duane Scott

I was impressed with the fact that you offered the Hope God gives… that He’ll fight for us.

But I was most impressed you didn’t stop there. That we still need to do what we can.

The most common thing I hear Christian’s say, “It was a closed door.”

And what I like to say, “Really? I’m sorry. Keep knocking on doors. And pray. But keep knocking. Because that job you’re looking for? That relationship you want? That injury you’re trying to recover from? Well, you’ll have a whole lot better chance of getting it when you keep trying to do what you can and leave the rest to God.”

Definitely one of your top posts, dude.
http://www.abrahamchronicles.com Dustin

Boom, love this Jason.

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

Boom. Thanks =D

http://verymuchlater.com Jake

I love it when God is like this. “I’ll take care of it! (Big booming voice) NOW GET OFF YOUR…..butts.” It’s life isn’t it?

http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

He tends to do that quite a bit, which is good. A lot of Christians have that – I’ll just sit around and do nothing while God drops what I want out of the sky mentality. I know I did for a long time. But he doesn’t really work that way.