For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory! Deuteronomy 20:4
God is in the business of doing things that only He can receive the credit for. We call these types of situations "Only God" stories. It might have been a time when all the cards were stacked up against a person, but then the hope of God entered in and changed everything. As a pastor at this church, I have been blessed with a front row seat to see how God intervened at just the right time to rescue His people and give them victory.
Here is one story of a gentleman who a few months ago described himself as an atheist and supreme skeptic. A Sagebrusher had the courage to challenge him on his beliefs and give him the book "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. He read the book to prove the man wrong. But the more research that he did, the more he was forced to come to the realization that Jesus was the Son of God. Through this process, the man saw God's hand leading and guiding him to believe. This was further confirmed when one day, he found that his crushing student loan debt was reduced to $0 in a way that could only have been God. He has an incredible "Only God" story!
When the Israelites were on the edge of entering into the Promised Land, Moses gave one final speech to the people. We find this speech in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses is rallying the people to take the land from the very enemies of God. He reminds them that God is going to fight with them against their enemies. To further the point, Moses promises them that God will give them the victory if they trust in Him and follow His lead. The Israelites listened to the instruction of Moses, believing that God was with them, and they took the land. They saw God bring down the walls of Jericho when they cried out to the Lord. When the armies of the Canaanites outmatched them, it was God who intervened supernaturally to give them the upper hand. The Israelites had an "Only God" story that they would tell throughout the ages of history. God gave them the victory as they trusted in Him.
As you read this, know that God wants to do something in your life that only He can take credit for. He wants to bring you into an "Only God" story. Through inviting Him into the process, you will be amazed at what He does in your presence. Why not invite Him to amaze you today?
Take some time to think through your "Only God" story. Think through a time in your life where without God's intervention, you would have been hopeless. There are many ways you can explore this, but take the time to remember all the battles that God fought on your behalf and the victories you have experienced as a result.
“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
“Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, ‘Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house. Has anyone here just planted a vineyard but not yet eaten any of its fruit? If so, you may go home! You might die in battle, and someone else would eat the first fruit. Has anyone here just become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? Well, you may go home and get married! You might die in the battle, and someone else would marry her.’
“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’ When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders.
“As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the Lord your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the plunder from your enemies that the Lord your God has given you.
