The God Who Fights for You

Exodus14:14 NIV The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Life is full of battles, and scripture clearly reflects that fact. While many of the Old Testament battles were fought with swords and spears, most people today are fighting mental, emotional, and spiritual battles that no one may see. The word “battle” may bring to mind a number of stressful, dangerous, or scary situations. It could be your health, family, finances, or a spiritual battle you cannot see.

With so much chaos, it is easy to carry a feeling of anxiety and defensiveness. Whenever we feel attacked, defending ourselves is often the natural response. Yet God declares that He is our defender; 2 Samuel 22:2-4 NIV states, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.” Anytime we step into a role that scripture clearly defines as God’s, when we choose to defend ourselves rather than allow God to defend, God will allow us to fight our own battles. But Exodus 14:14 promises God will fight our battles, but there is a requirement—we must be still, letting go of the offense, remaining silent, refraining from the urge to defend ourselves, letting God deal with the issue in his timing and in his ways.

The Israelites were hemmed in by the Red Sea, by desert, and an angry Egyptian army coming after them. When there appeared no possible means of escape, Moses proclaimed, “The Lord will fight for you.” It was a promise from God, but with a requirement: “you need only be still." To be still literally means to let go and remain silent. When the enemy appears to be bearing down on you, God only requires you to leave it to him. Don’t defend, don’t flee, but stand firm and let him fight on your behalf. It will likely be a way that only God could provide, like parting the sea while God himself stands between you and your enemy.

The young shepherd, bringing much-needed food and supplies from home, arrived at the battle scene only to find his three brothers and the entire Israelite army cowering in fear. The enemy was certainly formidable: more than 9 feet tall, covered in bronze armor, with a spear the size of a weaver’s beam. It wasn’t that David was so much braver than everyone else, but he had learned something while keeping his father’s sheep, something the Israelites had forgotten. “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). As he entered the battle with Goliath, David proclaimed God’s truth before his foe. “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:46-47).

More than 1000 years later, Jesus fought the ultimate battle for us, a battle we could never win on our own. Jesus defeated death and the grave, liberating us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). No matter what hardships you face or how unpredictable they are, you can rely on and trust in our God, who fights for you.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, remember this promise: “In times of trouble he will shelter me; he will keep me safe in his Temple and make me secure on a high rock” Psalm 27:5 GNT. He is the God who fights for you; you only need to be still.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 AMP Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Christ who loved us.

Psalms 34:17 NIV The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalms 44:3 TPT Our forefathers didn’t take the land by their own strength or their own skill or strategy. But it was through the shining forth of your radiant presence and the display of your mighty power. You loved to give them victory, for you took great delight in them. You are my God, my King!

Psalms 20:6-7 NIV Now know this: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Deuteronomy 3:22 NASB Do not fear, for the Lord your God is the One fighting for you.

Deuteronomy 20:4 NLT For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!

2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.

Joshua 23:10 TPT For Yahweh your God fights for you as he promised he would!

1 John 5:4-5 NIV For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Revelation 12:11 NASB And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Romans 12:19 NIV Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.

John 16:33 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Proverbs 21:31 NLT The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Psalms 18:2 NIV The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 94:22 AMP But the Lord has become my high tower and defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.

Psalms 5:11 AMP But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You.

Isaiah 42:13 NLT The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies.