GOD IS MILITANT
“The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” Exodus 15:3
In the past few generations, a spirit of pacifism has permeated our culture. This view of war as being evil for virtually any cause has affected the way people look at God. Many see God as an enemy of war and an advocate of peace at any cost. However, the Word of God declares, “The LORD is a man of war.” The word militant means “engaged in warfare, aggressively active in a cause.” This is an attribute of God that is frequently ignored or underestimated. God is very much engaged in a spiritual battle. He is aggressive in His pursuits, not passive.
When Lucifer rebelled against God, he was expelled from Heaven and became God’s enemy. This was a declaration of war, and this conflict will continue until Satan is “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10). This is a war between good and evil, between truth and error, between God and His enemies. When the children of Israel were sent into Canaan, they were there to conquer the land for God and righteousness. When David faced Goliath, he stood valiantly in the name of the Lord and declared, “the battle is the LORD’s” (I Samuel 17:47).
This spiritual warfare continues to rage. When we came to Christ, we were introduced to this ongoing conflict. Our battle is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). And the battle is still the Lord’s. He is the One that gives the victory. He “is a man of war.” He gives the victory as we walk by faith and trust Him completely. Our flesh can never prevail in its strength alone. Through Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors.
The Psalmist said in Psalm 24:8, “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.” God is our mighty conqueror. We battle daily with temptations, with our own flesh and emotions, with our thought life, and with the godless world and the devil’s devices. By faith, we look to the Lord and confidently trust Him for the victory. One day our conquering King will come again, and in righteousness He will “judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11). We are not in this battle alone. God fights for us, defends us, leads us into battle, and will one day triumph over evil. Thank God, we are on the winning side.