Original Entry: April 19, 2007
Portland, Or
DT 1:30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." Deuteronomy 1:30
DT 3:22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22
NE 4:15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" Nehemiah 4:15-20
My parents never advocated fighting.
In fact the only time I can ever remember any coercion to fight was from dad. I was not only the oldest child of three, but my brother and sister were younger and smaller. My dad strongly encouraged me never to fight unless it was to defend and protect my younger siblings, which I did to the utmost. My brother and sister literally grew up under the banner of my protection.
A couple of summers ago we all laughed as they confessed something to me. I was a three sport athlete and with that came a certain reputation that Pam and Tom used (without my knowledge) to the fullest. During my senior year Tom was a sophomore and Pam was a freshman and according to them they used to instigate arguments and fights on a regular basis. When their adversary would approach them, they would smirk and say, “Do you know who my brother is? My brother is Jim Ramos and he will protect us.” Subsequently they had full reign of our high school of about 1000 students during my senior year and I was none the wiser!
Isn’t it interesting how bold a person will be once they realize they come under the banner of another’s protection? You know where I am going with this don’t you!
Timidity is transformed into boldness when someone greater has our back.
As a man, father, and husband, it is my privilege, duty, and honor to guard my family. 1 Corinthians 16:13 tells men to “be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” When I read this and consider my role as a man I shudder at the realization that nobody has by back. Sometimes I feel like I am back on the football field on a Friday night, lying on my back after having the wind knocked out of me. I gasp for every precious breath of air as my coach grabs my belt and lifts me off the ground to resuscitate my lungs.
Nehemiah 4:15-20 is the wind that comes back into a man’s soul as he realizes he doesn’t stand alone. God has his back. A man can stand up straight and stick out his chest knowing, “The Lord will fight for us!”
Men, you don’t stand alone, lead alone, or fight alone. The Lord stands with you breathing the breath of life, speaking the words of life and empowering you with the boldness for life to fight the good fight of faith (2 Tim 4:6-7).
Be a man. Fight with and for the God who fights with and for you.
