Why should you fight?
At the start of February I had the sense that there would be a need to fight. In fact, at the beginning of the month I titled my journal entries Fighting February. I had no idea how real the idea of fighting would be now that we have witnessed the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The idea of a need to fight was highlighted because via social media including different sermons on YouTube, I kept running into the story of Gideon found in the book of Judges. God called Gideon, a man who described himself as the weakest in his family and from a clan he described as the weakest, to defeat a large army.
When Gideon questioned this directive, God answered, “Go in the strength that you have…I will be with you.” This charge — to go with the strength you do have (independent of what in your view you lack) — brings to mind the reality that ordinary citizens in Ukraine have chosen to take up arms to defend their country. Many are civilians without prior formal training, but are equipped with strength — the strength and resolve to defend their country and their right to it.
Recently we’ve witnessed the racism that African people in Ukraine have experienced. They have been put in a position to not only fight for escape from Ukraine, but also fight for entry into other nations. They have remained in a position to fight to be treated equally — a battle in which we’ve contended for far too long.
In the face of these events I can’t help but continue to be reminded that victory is not found in shrinking back — not from racism, not from invasion, not from poverty, not from illness, not from persecution, not from depression, not from hypocrisy, and not from oppression. And not from any other evil force that desires to quench your fire for pursuing the call of God on your life.
I don’t know what battles you’ve been called to fight, but I pray you too would recognize and go in the strength that you have.
The Lord turned to (Gideon) and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” — Judges 6:14–16
God will be with you. God will strengthen you. God will cause you to prevail. In fact the victory in God is already settled in eternity. May you go in the strength that you have.
Your greatest strength — the presence of God with you and within you.
Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. — Joshua 1:9 NASB