If God is God, then he must be stronger than the strongest of his enemies. If not, then he is not the Lord God, the Almighty.
If you believe in a deliverer who has fallen into sin, this is no God and Savior. But our God conquered sin in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If you believe in a healer and helper who himself is susceptible to disease and death, this is no God and Savior. But our God commands disease and death to let go of its grip and it does.
If you worship a king and commander who is beaten down by other kings and goes into hiding at any sign of a threat, this is no God and Savior.
Our God, to be God, must defend, conquer, fight and even kill. And he does it all for you.
After the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea, Moses sang God’s praises, “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him … The Lord is a warrior … Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has … drowned in the Red Sea … Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy” (Exodus 15:2-6).
Pharaoh and the Egyptians had, over the course of time, set themselves up in opposition to God’s saving purposes for humankind.
The Israelites, even in their unfaithfulness, were the remnant of the world’s population pursuing a covenant relationship with the only true God. So through Moses and the Israelites, God establishes his authority and his rule. There is death. There is blood. There is war and torture and military prowess on display.
Must there be such violence? Only if the enemies of God threaten him, seek to bully people whom he wants to bless, and get in the way of his saving purposes. Then he must act as God.
Does that give any of us the right to act violently in the name of God, fighting angrily or even killing his enemies? Absolutely not, unless we have a direct command from God to do so. This is simply honoring him as God.
PRAYER: Dear God, to be God you must defend, conquer, fight and even kill. You must prove yourself as the strongest of all, or you wouldn’t be God. I’m glad that you are my God. I’m glad that you fight for me. I’m glad I’m on your side. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders” (Exodus 15:11)? Read Exodus chapter 15 and notice how God is praised for being a fighter.
