Deuteronomy 3:22
22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
Moses had been recounting how the LORD God had granted Israel victory over Sihon (the daunting king of the Amorites) and King Og of Bashan (a huge giant whose bed was made of iron and measured 13 feet long by 6 feet wide [Deuteronomy 3:1–11])! Moses’ purpose for narrating those stories of Israel’s resounding victories was to assure Israel that their LORD God had been their unfailing strength and help in all their battles. He then narrated how the LORD had granted the request of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
By narrating all of the past events in which the LORD had guided them, Moses also sought to build up Israel’s trust in God for the future battles they would face as they entered the Promised Land. At that time, Joshua was given a special commission – “Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (vv. 21-22). Since Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, Joshua was commanded to courageously lead God’s people to conquer it. Many of the people who dwelled in the land were gigantic in stature. They lived in walled towns and fortified cities. But Joshua and the people should not fear them. The LORD will fight for them.
Fear is a terrible hindrance to our advancing and accomplishing of our God-given duties in God’s kingdom. Fear numbs our hearts and bodies with doubt and anxiety. Hence, God requires us to rise up in confidence in Him to do the work of His kingdom. The work of evangelism and worldwide missions need men of faith and devotion to spread the Gospel. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Churches need faithful pastors to feed the flock in these days of many false teachers who destroy the flock. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2). We need dedicated, godly men to do the LORD’s work with sacrificial and joyful giving and service (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Let us, with tenacious trust in our God, renew ourselves to serve Him, and fearlessly give ourselves to fulfil all His will concerning us.