By Robin Sam
‘The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name’ (Exodus 15:3).
WHEN Moses sang the song recorded in Exodus 15 after a magnificent victory over the Pharaoh and his forces, he described the Lord who gave victory to him and the people of Israel as ‘a man of war.’ In other words, the Lord is a warrior. He is the best when it comes to mowing down opposition to His supreme will and plan.
Yes, the Lord is gentle and kind (Matthew 11:29). His gentleness makes us great (Psalm 18:35). Prophet Isaiah waxed eloquent about the gentle nature of God in Isaiah 40:11. ‘He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.’ If there’s one thing that David found out about God in the travails of life it is this: ‘The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit’ (Psalm 34:18).
Although the Lord is gentle and kind and loving, there’s another side to His divine nature. He is a warrior. He is a man of war. Moses said the Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name. What he meant is God’s nature does not change just because He shows His people another side of His character. He is still the Lord. That’s His name forever.
What did Moses mean when he said the Lord is a man of war?
Moses understood a facet of God’s character that is both awe-inspiring and comforting. He was reminding the people of Israel that God is not passive or indifferent to the struggles we face, but rather, He actively fights for us.
When it looked like the Pharaoh’s armies would snatch them away from their newfound liberty, the Israelites realized that Lord had all along been plotting the fall of the Egyptian armies. The Red Sea was the perfect backdrop to displaying the Lord’s splendor in war.
Dear child of God, all may seem bleak around you. You may be feeling the breath of the enemy at the back of your neck right now. You may think your destiny is to end up as fodder to the enemy. Remember, when it feels like the end is near the Lord is working out a new beginning for you.
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they were actually stepping into a new world of liberty. Gone were the days of slavery, of hard labor, of lack, shame and damnation. God can do the same for you too.
The Lord who led Joshua and his army into Jericho, the Lord who helped David fell the foul-mouthed Goliath, the same Lord wants to give you victory today. Psalm 24:8 begins with a question. ‘Who is this King of glory?’ The psalmist gave himself the answer: ‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.’
The mighty David decided early on in his life that he would give glory to God wherever it’s due. He knew he was a warrior, that he could kill any bear and any lion that came to harm his flock. He knew how to slay the giants who stood between him and his inheritance. Yet, he also knew who kept him going. In Psalm 18:32-34, David said: ‘It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.’
He made this bold and grand proclamation before he flung the pebble at Goliath. ‘All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s’ (1 Samuel 17:47).
The Lord has not changed nor has He altered His battle strategies for His children. Do not for a moment doubt His ability to redeem you, vanquish the enemy, lift up your head and prepare a banquet for you before your enemies. He who did it for His people in the past can do the same today. The Lord is His name. May the name of the Lord be glorified! Amen.
