Trusting God to Fight Our Battles

 

Trusting God to Fight Our Battles

Text: Exodus 23:20–33

In Exodus 23:20–33, God gave His people specific promises about entering and conquering the Promised Land. He reminded them that the victory was not about their own power or cleverness, but about His presence, His guidance, and His faithfulness. The Israelites were to trust, obey, and move forward in faith, because the Lord Himself had already gone ahead of them.

God Promised to Go Before Them
God told Israel: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (Exod. 23:20, NIV).

• This “messenger” or angel has often been understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ Himself—the One who guided them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

• God was making it clear: “I will fight for you. I will protect you. I will lead you.” The Israelites didn’t need to figure everything out; they simply needed to follow in obedience and trust.

God Desired to Do the Fighting
When Israel escaped Egypt, they saw with their own eyes the Red Sea open before them and then close upon Pharaoh’s army. They didn’t lift a sword that day—the Lord Himself fought for them.

• That memory should have strengthened their faith. If God could defeat the world’s most powerful empire in one night, surely He could drive out the Canaanites.

• But sadly, many times they forgot His power. Their unbelief turned what should have been a swift victory into years of wandering.

The Promised Land Was Already Theirs
The land of Canaan wasn’t something they had to earn. God had already sworn it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was theirs by covenant promise.

• Their role was not to make the promise come true—it was simply to believe it and walk into it.

• Every battle, every city, every enemy was already under God’s control. Faith was the key to unlocking the inheritance.

The Consequence of Unbelief
Instead of resting in God’s promises, Israel often doubted. At Kadesh Barnea, they listened to the fearful report of ten spies rather than remembering God’s mighty acts. Their unbelief closed the door to blessing and delayed God’s plan.

• Unbelief doesn’t cancel God’s promises, but it can keep us from enjoying them.

• Trust opens the door for God to work; fear closes it.

God’s Faithfulness Through History
Even after the wilderness failures, God never abandoned His people. Again and again, He raised up faithful leaders who trusted Him.

• One powerful example is King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19. Surrounded by the Assyrian army, with no hope in human strength, he prayed and trusted God. That very night, God sent His angel and struck down 185,000 enemies.

• The same God who fought for Israel then, still fights for His people today.

Our Faith Today
Exodus 23 reminds us that the battle belongs to the Lord. He goes before us. He sends His Messenger—Jesus Christ—to lead and protect. He has already secured the victory. What He asked of Israel, He asks of us: trust, obedience, and faith.

We may not be facing Canaanite armies, but we face trials, temptations, and spiritual battles. The same God who fought for His people then still fights for us today. Our task is not to win in our own strength, but to believe His promises, to follow His leading, and to trust that He is faithful.

Just as God worked through leaders like Hezekiah, He still works through His people today. And He has not changed—He is faithful still.

More on: Sabbath School Lesson 9 - Living the LAW- EXODUS