When it came time for God to deliver Israel from their Egyptian bondage, Moses revealed in advance that God Himself would fight Pharaoh and his armies.
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD…For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’” Exodus 14:13-14
Upon their deliverance Moses sang a song to the LORD which included the following words.
“The LORD is a man of war…” Exodus 15:3a
The Hebrew for ‘war’ has several synonyms which can and are used interchangeably, i.e. ‘battle’ and ‘fight.’
After forty trying years in the wilderness as they prepared to enter the Promised Land Moses reaffirmed God’s promise that He would fight their battles.
“The LORD your God…He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes.” Deuteronomy 1:30
And so it was. As Joshua told all Israel in his farewell address:
“You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you.” Joshua 23:3
“Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” Joshua 21:45
During the days of the kings God continued to fight Israel’s battles and all the nations lived in fear.
“And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms…when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 20:29
One might think that wars would be limited to Old Testament history. Such is not the case.
In the beginning of the New Testament John the Baptist referred to Jesus as ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’
The ‘Lamb’ told His disciples that He would be a warrior.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
And just before He left to return to His Father, He reiterated that wars would be present during the future.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” Matthew 24:6-7
Near the end of the tribulation period the kings from the other side of the Euphrates River will be drawn into battle at Armageddon.
“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates…so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared…to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…the place called Armageddon.” Revelation 16:12, 14, 16
The final world empire with its ten nation federation will be engaged in war with the Lamb.
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings…” Revelation 17:14
John saw the great battle between the nations and the ultimate warrior.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him…makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.” Revelation 19:11, 15
The first to be destroyed are the anti-Christ and false prophet.
“And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:21
There is tremendous unrest in the world today. The profound unrest is in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation that during this age there would be wars and rumors of wars.
How many nations in conflict today do you suppose are pleading for the ‘Lamb’ to deliver them from their enemies?
Recall the Angel of the LORD’s description of Ishmael.
“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” NIV Genesis 16:12
There are, indeed, exciting times at hand.
It’s not wise to rouse the ‘sleeping Lamb.’
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