We Will Go Up And Fight

Deuteronomy 1: 41 – 45, "Then you answered and said to me, 'We have sinned against the LORD; we will go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.' And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain. "And the LORD said to me, 'Tell them, "Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies."' So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you. NKJV

Today’s word is one of encouragement; however, it is also filled with Godly wisdom that will help believers avoid the pitfalls of pride and unbelief that sometimes blinds us to our own ways. To understand better all that the Lord is teaching us today please take a moment and read all of Deuteronomy 1.

On the surface, it appears as if the men of Israel repented of their rebellion (sin) against the command of the Lord to possess the land. Nevertheless, instead of obeying the Lord and entering into the Promised Land, they chose to believe the evil report of the ten spies. Israel allowed unbelief to fill their hearts to the point that they took man’s word or assessment of the land over God’s Word, even though they brought back fruit, which proved God’s promises were true.

After the spies gave Moses and Israel the bad report, the people entered into their tents and spoke evil against the Lord, although God had told them the truth. In verse 29 of Deuteronomy 1, Moses begins to chide the men of Israel for turning their hearts against the Lord in unbelief. Afterwards, Moses informed them that God was displeased with their sin; and he let them know that none of the older generation would be able to inherit the land of promise.

However, when the men heard of God’s decision, they seemed to have a change of heart, or did they? They did tell Moses they had sinned against the Lord. Let’s stop here for a moment. Does confession of sin also mean that you have repented of the sin? No, it does not. Let’s continue. Although they had confessed their sin before God and Moses, their hearts were still filled with rebellious pride. Instead of repenting (change of hearts and ways), they decided among themselves that they would NOW obey the command of the Lord to fight the Amorites. When the men told Moses what they were about to do in response to God’s previous command to seize the land, Moses told them not to go because God had told him that He wouldn’t be with them, nor would He fight for them. Nevertheless, the men DEFIED the Lord’s command once again; even though they knew that God wasn’t with them, they pounced on the Amorites. Guess what happened? They got defeated by their enemies.

The spirit of pride and rebellion that blinded the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 1 is alive and well in the hearts of believers today. Let me explain. Whenever the men realized what they had done was sin against the Lord, instead of submitting to the Lord and following His will, they allowed their pride to defy God’s will and sought to fulfill God’s previous command in “their own strength.” How many times has God allowed America and His church in America to endure hardship and even disaster simply because we wouldn’t repent of our sins, even though we’ve gotten up in church and confessed that we had sinned.

I’m sure you can think of things that the church knows are sin, but we haven’t truly repented of them, and we’ve attempted to fight the sin in our own strength. I could probably go on for another few pages, but you have things to do, and places to go. Even so, before I leave you let me ask you one question. Is there an area in your heart that God has said you have sin, and you have confessed it, but haven’t submitted your heart or will to God? If so, then today is the day to bring your sin before the Lord and ask His forgiveness, and seek His ways instead of your own. God will turn your life, and the hard situations that you‘ve been fighting completely around for you.

Praising the Lord for Victory,
Pastor Asa Dockery