When God Fights For Us

“The Lord God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.”

– Deuteronomy 1:30 ESV

Throughout Scripture, the wilderness wanderings of Israel (from Exodus to Deuteronomy) symbolize the believer’s journey from salvation to spiritual maturity.

We may view the process as Egypt representing slavery to sin, and the Passover recorded in Exodus 12-14 as salvation through the blood of the lamb. The wilderness wanderings also represent a time of testing, discipline, and spiritual growth in the process of sanctification and maturity. (Deut. 2-5; Heb. 3-4) We might also view Canaan or the promised land as representing the believer's rest and victory in Christ, not heaven, but a mature walk in the Spirit and the joy of the Lord. (Josh. 1; Heb. 4:8–11).

Conversely, the wilderness experience also symbolizes spiritual immaturity or unbelief that keeps believers from enjoying God’s promised peace and victory.

The Apostle Paul teaches that Israel’s wilderness experience was written for our instruction:

“Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”— 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

One of the reasons Israel failed to enter into the peace and victory God promised was unbelief. They doubted God’s ability to give them the victory over their enemies.

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you.” — Deuteronomy 7:1 (ESV)

In our own journey of faith, we face trials and tests that can serve as a proving ground for our faith. Battles and blessings flow in parallel to each other as we learn to believe God, and demonstrate that belief through obedience.

As we trust and obey God in the wilderness, we are assured to possess the gates of our enemies and the promises of our God.

Our Canaan is a land flowing with the milk and honey of God’s goodness, yes, but also the possession of our enemies' spoils. When the Israelites defeated a nation that occupied their land, they retained the spoils, including all of the resources of their enemies.

Today, the same is possible for the modern believer in the wilderness between redemption and glorification. Until we get to heaven, we can experience milk and honey. These are blessings God has for us as an inheritance and as children of Abraham. Yet these blessings often come by way of battles.

We are commissioned to confiscate the spoils of our enemies. Temptations, trials, and spiritual skirmishes are commonplace for a true believer and are opportunities to learn to fight and conquer.

In his book "A Cloud by Day and Fire by Night," A.W. Tozer writes,

"When circumstances are against us, we can be reminded of what God told Israel in Exodus 23:22: God said, 'I will be an enemy to your enemies."

What a powerful word! God goes before us in our endeavor to advance his kingdom.

Battles will come, but God will be an enemy to our enemies as we walk in obedience to him.

Be encouraged this week and stay in the fight! You are destined to win in the wilderness because God himself will fight for you when you trust and obey.

On the journey with you,

Pastor Bob

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About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.

Dr. Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 25 years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.