Let God Be Your Defender: Trust Him to Fight for You

Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible to overcome? A challenge that was too big for you to handle. A problem that made you feel hopeless and helpless. If you have, then you are not alone. Many people in the Bible faced such situations, and they learned that God, their Jehovah Nissi, their Banner, could fight for them and give them victory.

 

One of the most famous examples of this is the story of Joshua and the Wall of Jericho. You can read it in Joshua 6:1-27. Jericho was a fortified city with a high and thick wall that protected it from invaders. It was the first city that the Israelites had to conquer to enter the promised land. But how could they do it? They had no siege engines, no battering rams, no ladders, no weapons of war. They were just a bunch of former slaves who had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

  

But they had something more powerful than any human weapon: they had God on their side. And God had a plan that was unconventional, unexpected, and unbelievable. He told Joshua to march around the city walls once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, and then blow the trumpets and shout with a loud voice. God promised that when they did this, the wall of the city would collapse, and they would be able to take the city.

 

This plan made no sense from a human perspective. It seemed foolish, ridiculous, and futile. How could walking, blowing horns, and shouting bring down a wall? What if the people of Jericho laughed at them, mocked them, or attacked them? What if nothing happened after seven days? What if they wasted their time and energy for nothing?

 

But Joshua and the people trusted God and obeyed His command. They did not question, doubt, or complain. They did not rely on their own wisdom, strength, or ability. They did not look at the circumstances but at the promise of God. They did not fear the enemy but revered the Lord. They did not walk by sight but by faith. Their mindset was to follow God's instructions regardless of the reaction of others.

 

And God did what He said He would do. On the seventh day, after they marched around the city seven times, the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted with a great shout. And miraculously, supernaturally, amazingly, the wall of Jericho fell down flat. The Israelites charged into the city and took it by force. They destroyed everything in it, as God had instructed, except for Rahab and her family, who had helped the spies and believed in God. They also took the silver, gold, bronze, and iron for God's treasury.

 

The story of Joshua and the Wall of Jericho teaches us some important lessons about how God fights for us:

 

- God's ways are higher than our ways. He can use any means He chooses to accomplish His purposes. He is not limited by our logic, reason, or understanding. He can do things that are impossible for us to do or imagine.

- God's plans are perfect and trustworthy. He knows what He is doing and why He is doing it. He has a good reason for everything He commands us to do or not to do. He has a good outcome for everything He allows us to go through or not go through.

- God's power is greater than our problems. He can overcome any obstacle, difficulty, or opposition that we face. He can break through any barrier, wall, or stronghold that stands in our way. He can defeat any enemy, foe, or adversary that threatens us.

- God's presence is with us always. He does not leave us alone or forsake us in our battles. He goes before us, behind us, beside us, and within us. He leads us, guides us, protects us, and helps us.

- God's promises are true and faithful. He does not lie or change His mind. He does not fail or disappoint. He does not forget or delay. He does what He says He will do.

What are some signs that God is fighting for you? Here are some possible indicators:

 

- You have peace in your heart and mind that surpasses all understanding.

- You have joy in your soul and spirit that overflows with gratitude.

- You have hope in your eyes and vision that looks beyond your circumstances.

- You have faith in your mouth and words that speak life and blessing.

- You have love in your hands and actions that show kindness and compassion.

 

If you want to experience God's intervention in your life like Joshua did, you need to do what Joshua did:

 

- Listen to God's voice and instructions.

- Obey God's will and commands.

- Trust God's character and promises.

- Praise God's name and glory.

- Follow God's lead and direction.

 

And as you do, you will see God do amazing things for you and through you. You will see walls fall, enemies flee, and victories won. You will see God fight for you. Nothing is impossible with our God!

 

Let us pray:

 

Heavenly Father, our Jehovah Nissi, thank You for being our defender, deliverer, and champion. Thank You for fighting for us when we are weak, helpless, and hopeless. Thank You for giving us victory through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Help us to trust You, obey You, and follow You in every situation we face. Help us to see Your hand at work in our lives. Help us to praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.