Facing War

Exodus 12-13; Psalms 21; Acts 1

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.”

Exodus 13:17, 18

There is a big difference between being armed for battle, and actually engaging in battle. God protected his people from tests in battle that they were not yet ready to face. Just because we have memorized Ephesians 6:10-18, doesn’t mean we can face spiritual warfare and overcome. The love of God toward us goes beyond what we know, to the battles we have been spared from without our knowledge. Peter loudly professed his love and faithfulness toward Christ, yet Jesus knew Peter would deny him three times. Later, Peter taught the Church that they were to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. With God’s grace, we, too, can resist the devil and stand firm in our faith (1 Peter 5:5-9). We have been armed for spiritual battle in Christ, and daily need his grace to stand firm.

“Lord Jesus, I pray for grace to stand firm in the battle today, for your glory.”