Do Not Be Afraid, Victory is guaranteed but…

Deuteronomy 3:2-3
(2) The LORD said to me, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”
(3) So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors.

Moses at this point of the journey to the Promised Land is about to launch the entry into the long-awaited land. Moses re-narrates the history of God’s leadership and how God gave them victory. Moses tells the Israelites what God did when they met fierce enemies. God granted them victory.

Moses reminds them of a time when Bashan king of Og attacked Israelites with his whole army. Moses did what all of us should do, he turned to God for help and direction on how to deal with this serious threat. God told them the words in our text today. God told Moses and the Israelites not to be afraid. The reason why they should not be afraid is that God had guaranteed them victory against this army!

God even goes further to assure Moses and his people that they will conquer Bashan’s army and capture the whole kingdom of Og. The victory was sure. God who doesn’t fail had promised resounding victory. The message from God is simple and clear, do not be afraid, victory is assured!

Then Moses tells us that God actually kept His promise. But guess what? They had to fight. In our text today Moses tells us that they fought and struck down Bashan’s army. They fought. Yes, they fought. God said do not be afraid, but they had to fight. God said victory is guaranteed but they had to fight. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

When God says do not be afraid, He is not asking us to relax and wait for free things. When God says victory is guaranteed, He does not negate the need to work for it. Seating back and waiting for free things is not God’s way of blessing us. God bless us while we are fighting. God grants victory to those who are fighting. Nothing comes to idlers who are seated waiting for free things. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

Exodus 14:13-15
(13)Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. (14)The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(15)Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.

God says be still then He wonders why these people are idling waiting. He tells them to keep moving. God forward. God’s promise to success is only possible while we are moving. When God says be still, He means do not be afraid. He doesn’t mean that just chill. Do something as you wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

When God says do not be afraid I will give you a spouse, it is not a call to be snobbish. Be active out there, dating, breaking up, and praying for a sign. God will provide a person while you are at it and not when idling in lazy hope. God has promised to make us head and not the tail, Deuteronomy 28:13. But that promise is not a call to endless religious activities while ignoring the need to get busy in the essentials of life. Do not be afraid, God will make you the head and not the tail but work for it. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

You will be the head in school but first, study hard. You will be the head in business but have sleepless nights. You will be the head at work but first put in the requisite effort. You will be the head in farming, but do the right things on your farm. God has said, do not fear the future, God has guaranteed a good future, but work towards it. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

Jeremiah 29:4-7
(4)This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: (5)“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. (6)Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. (7)Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has good plans for us, but He says, build houses. I have good plans but marry while waiting. I have good plans but plant gardens and tend the fruits until they mature which is the business of long term and not short term. I have good plans but get busy with life doing something as you wait for the plans and make them come true. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

God will be with you in marriage but behave well in that marriage. God will be with you in the journey but drive safely. God will be with you at work but behave responsibly. God will be with you but keep safe from being conned. God will be with you, but you must play your human part. Do not be afraid, victory is guaranteed but you have to fight!

Forgive me LORD for sitting back and waiting for free things. Help me to keep busy doing the right things as I wait for your promise to come true, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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