Deuteronomy 20 – By Pastor/Elder Tony Minell
Posted on June 25, 2023 by No comments
If you’ve been following the M’Cheyene reading plan (if you haven’t – now is a great time to jump in), then you’ll recall that we have been reading through Deuteronomy. Despite the historical distance from us, Deuteronomy is surprisingly relevant to our lives in Christ. Its relevance for today was especially evident to me in chapter 20.
Deuteronomy 20 begins with the words, “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them”. I suspect that as the Lord shared these words with those who had survived in the wilderness for years and years, they were holding on to the memory of when the Lord delivered them and their parents from the Egyptian army. They had watched him dispense of the most powerful military in the world – in a matter of moments. Right before their eyes, they watched the Egyptians’ horses, chariots and army literally collapse into the sea. Indeed, Miriam’s song (recorded in Exodus 15:21ff) must have been a song that they sang often to one another.
But, as is true for all of mankind, it doesn’t take long for them to forget. It had been 40 years since they witnessed that kind of battle victory. And so, their question might have been, ‘Why shouldn’t we fear a more powerful army? Why not be in dread of them? The answer is roundly answered in verses 1-4. I would encourage you to read those important words.
The summary of why they ought not to be afraid is found in verse 4. There, God’s people are told, “The Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you the victory.” God Himself will fight the battle.
Though Israel will find themselves in battle (verse 1), they should not be afraid because the Lord Himself will go with/ahead of them to fight against their enemies (I can’t help but think of Jesus as depicted in Revelation – as He is seated upon a white horse and prepared to go to battle).
Israel has nothing to fear. Those who put their hope in God have nothing to fear. Yet, the chapter does not end there. It enters into a series of statements that we often overlook – or at least I had read them for years without connecting them to verses 1-4.
If we continue reading, we see that in verses 5-7 God gives several examples of those who should not go to war. Namely, if you recently built a house and have not dedicated it you were not to go to battle (verse 5), if you recently planted a vineyard, you were not to go to battle (verse 6), or, if you had recently been betrothed (proposed/married) to a woman, you were not to go to battle (verse 7).
The Lord commanded that if you fit into any of these categories, you were not to join in battle. Why? He gives the very same reason for each: “lest he die in battle.”
This is rather surprising because God had just explained that they had nothing to fear – yet the Lord Himself explains that death is a very real possibility. In short, God says, don’t be afraid! I will have the victory – but, that being said, you might die.
This is what we don’t often understand today. The message we have been misguidedly told repeatedly is that because the Lord has the victory, our lives will be painless and perfect. For the 21st century Christian, we cannot conceive of God’s victory without, at the same time, thinking our lives will necessarily be improved in this life. We act as though the battle that Jesus wages is for our temporary happiness. But His battle is so much bigger than this day. His victory envelops every day into eternity.
Victory will come, but, in truth, we need to grapple with the reality that His victory will actually require our death.
For the follower of Jesus Christ, we are no longer told to go home and dedicate our house, or eat from our vineyard. We are bid to come and die. To follow Him unto the cross. Jesus said, “for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). Though we walk straight unto death (death to ourselves), we need not fear the battle because death itself has been defeated. Though we die, yet shall we live.
Indeed, in Christ, the words of Deuteronomy 20:3b-4 have never been more true, “Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you.”
He has had the victory. Allow your life (along with your death) to be swallowed up into the victorious battle of the Lord today.
Blessings,
Tony Minell
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