Deuteronomy 3:22

“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” — Deuteronomy 3:22

The book of Deuteronomy is often called the “second law” or the “re-teaching of the law.” The first generation of Israelites who left Egypt had died in the wilderness because of their disobedience and lack of faith. Now, a new generation stood at the edge of the Promised Land. Many of them had been very young during the Exodus, and some had not even been born yet, so they needed to hear God’s law and covenant promises again. That is why Moses stood before them, reminding them of all the commandments, statutes, and instructions from God. By His mercy, they were now being granted the opportunity to enter the land under the leadership of Joshua.

God told Moses that his time was nearly over and that he would not cross into the land. Instead, Joshua was chosen to lead the people forward, to face the nations who inhabited the land; strong and powerful armies of giants and fortified cities, and cultures steeped in idolatry and witchcraft and to divide the land as their inheritance. The responsibility laid on Joshua was heavy, but Moses reminded him not to be afraid. The same God who had carried Israel out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and provided for them in the wilderness would continue to fight their battles.

This assurance we can hear again through Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Joshua fought physical battles as he led Israel into the Promised Land, and Timothy fought spiritual battles as he led the church in his generation. Both remind us today that when we step onto the battlefield of our own lives, we can do so with confidence, because the outcome rests in God’s hands, not ours. In the same way, we are called to stand with God, to obey His commands, and to trust His plans even when they seem impossible. And again, the burden of the outcome is not ours alone.

Jesus has already fought and won the greatest battle for us. He rescued us, taught us, died for us, rose again for us, and sent His Spirit to dwell within us. That Spirit still strengthens us to resist the flesh and overcome the works of the enemy. And if the Spirit within us is greater than the spirit of the world, then why should we fear? The Lord our God fights for us.