God—A.Man.of.War.

Exo..15:3:
Intro:.
A...The.Old.Testament.is.filled.with."shadows"......
......a..."So.let.no.one.judge.you.in.food.or.in.drink,.or.regarding.a.festival.or.a.new.moon.or.Sabbaths,.which.are.a.
............shadow.of.things.to.come,.but.the.substance.is.of.Christ."..Col..2:16-17.
......b..."For.if.He.were.on.earth,.He.would.not.be.a.priest,.since.there.are.priests.who.offer.the.gifts.according.to.the.law;.
............who.serve.the.copy.and.shadow.of.the.heavenly.things,.as.Moses.was.divinely.instructed.when.he.was.about.to.
............make.the.tabernacle...For.He.said,.'See.that.you.make.all.things.according.to.the.pattern.shown.you.on.the.
............mountain.'"..Heb..8:4-5;.cf..9:24.
......c..."For.the.law,.having.a.shadow.of.the.good.things.to.come,.and.not.the.very.image.of.the.things,.can.never.with.
............these.same.sacrifices,.which.they.offer.continually.year.by.year,.make.those.who.approach.perfect."..Heb..10:1.
............1...Note:..Certain.OT.elements.were.shadows;.certain.NT.elements.are.substance...Ex:..Copy/original.
............2...Ex:..When.I.take.my.dog.walking.around.the.yard.in.the.evening,.we.turn.on.the.outside.lights...He.will.
..................inevitably.see.his.shadow.on.the.side.of.the.house.and.begin.to.bark...Question:..Is.he.barking.at.a.dog,.or.at.
..................a.shadow.of.a.dog?...
B...Biblically..speaking,.a.shadow.is.a.glimpse,.a.preview,.or.a."coming.attraction".(like.a.movie).of.a.corresponding.NT.
......truth...
......a...Examples:.
...........1...A.lamb.was.a.shadow.(i.e.,.glimpse/preview/coming.attraction).of.Christ...Jn..1:29.
...........2...The.Flood.was.a.shadow.(i.e.,.glimpse/preview/coming.attraction).of.baptism...1.Pet..3:20-21.
...........3...The.bronze.serpent.on.the.pole.was.a.shadow.of.the.death.of.Christ...Jn..3:14..(The.OT.is.the.NT.concealed;.the.
................NT.is.the.OT.revealed)....
......b...These.OT.shadows.were.given.to.help.us.better.understand.and.appreciate.the.blessings.of.being.in.Christ..."For.
...........whatever.things.were.written.before.were.written.for.our.learning,.that.we.through.the.patience.and.comfort.of.
...........the.Scriptures.might.have.hope."..Rom..15:4..Ex:."Positive.preaching…".
...........1...The.OT.is.often.viewed.merely.as.a.collection.of.historical.tales,.a.documentation.of.the.Jewish.people,.as.a.
................source.for.understanding.Oriental.manners.and.customs,.and.as.place.to.find.Sunday.school.stories.for.
................children,.but..of.very.little.practical.importance.to.Christian.living...1.Cor..10:6,.11...
...........2...Ex:..Have.you.ever.been.encouraged.to.look.at.an.antique.book.which.has.beautiful.illustrations.and.
................engravings,.but.you.have.never.taken.the.time.to.actually.look.at.the.book?..The.only.way.to.really.appreciate.
................the.book.is.to.look.at.the.illustrations....
................a)..The.only.way.to.really.appreciate.what.we.have.in.Christ.and.His.church.is.by.looking.at.the.OT.illustrations.
.....................and.shadows!..Gal..3:24..
................b).Shadow/type:."The.LORD.is.a.man.of.war;.the.LORD.is.His.name."..Exo..15:3.....
.
I...God.is.NOT.a.man.
.
....A...We.tend.to.think.of.God.in.totally.human.terms..
.
..........1...Our.brains.can't.wrap.around.the.concept.of.deity,.so.we,.in.essence,."bring.Him.down.to.our.level".in.order.to.
...............comprehend.Him.as.best.we.can..
...............a...I.suppose,.in.one.sense,.it.is.good.that.we.recognize.God.as.a.person.and.not.just.some."comic.force".like.
....................something.out.of.Star.Wars..
...............b...But.there.is.a.danger.in.thinking.of.God.like.we.think.of.man...."These.things.you.have.done,.and.I.kept.silent;.
.....................you.thought.that.I.was.altogether.like.you;.but.I.will.rebuke.you,.and.set.them.in.order.before.your.eyes.".
....................Psm..50:21.
..........2...We.think.that.God.is.just.like.us..
...............1...Examples:.
.....................a...We.think.that.we.can.hide.from.man,.and.therefore.we.can.hide.from.God..
.....................b...We.think.that.we.can.withhold.information.from.man,.and.therefore.we.can.withhold.information.from.
..........................God..
.....................c...We.think.that.we.can.give.lip-service.to.our.marriage.and."get.by,".and.therefore.we.can.give.lip-service.
..........................to.our.spiritual."marriage".to.the.Lord.and.get.by..
................2...Having.said.that,.God.and.man.do.share.certain.similarities...
......................a...Man.has.a.face,.eyes.and.ears,.a.nose,.mouth,.arms,.hands,.fingers,.feet,.and.a.heart..
..............................God.has.a.face..."When.you.said,.'Seek.My.face,'.my.heart.said.to.You,.'Your.face,.LORD,.I.will.seek.'".
..............................Psm..27:8.
..............................God.has.eyes.and.ears..."For.the.eyes.of.the.LORD.are.on.the.righteous.and.His.ears.are.open.to.their.
..............................prayers;.but.the.face.of.the.LORD.is.against.those.who.do.evil."..1.Pet..3:12;.cf..Psm..102:1,2.
..............................God.has.a.nose..."And.with.the.blast.of.Your.nostrils.the.waters.were.gathered.together;.the.floods.
..............................stood.upright.like.a.heap;.the.depths.congealed.in.the.heart.of.the.sea."..Exo..15:8.
..............................God.has.a.mouth...But.He.answered.and.said,."It.is.written,.'Man.shall.not.live.by.bread.alone,.but.by.
..............................every.word.that.proceeds.from.the.mouth.of.God.'"..Mt..4:4.
..............................God.has.arms..."Ah,.Lord.GOD!..Behold,.You.have.made.the.heavens.and.the.earth.by.Your.great.
..............................power.and.outstretched.arm...There.is.nothing.too.hard.for.you."..Jer..32:17.
..............................God.has.hands..."Therefore.humble.yourselves.under.the.mighty.hand.of.God,.that.He.may.exalt.you..
..............................in.due.time."..1.Pet..5:6.
..............................God.has.fingers..."And.when.He.had.made.an.end.of.speaking.with.him.on.Mount.Sinai,.He.gave.Moses.
...............................two.tablets.of.the.Testimony,.tablets.of.stone,.written.with.the.finger.of.God."..Exo..31:18.
..............................God.has.feet..."Exalt.the.LORD.our.God,.and.worship.at.His.footstool—He.is.holy."..Psm..99:5.
..............................God.has.a.heart..."And.I.will.give.you.shepherds.according.to.My.heart,.who.will.feed.you.with.
...............................knowledge.and.understanding."..Jer..3:5;.cf..Acts.13:22.
......................b...These.are.simply.figures.of.speech.to.help.us.comprehend.something.of.the.nature.of.God...(God.is.not.a.
..........................."flesh.and.bone".entity;.He.is.Spirit)..."Behold.My.hands.and.My.feet,.that.it.is.I.Myself...Handle.Me.and.
............................see,.for.a.spirit.does.not.have.flesh.and.bones.as.you.see.I.have."..Lk..24:39.
....
....B...God.is.God.and.man.is.man..."God.is.not.a.man,.that.He.should.lie,.nor.a.son.of.man,.that.He.should.repent...Has.
..........He.said,.and.will.He.not.do?..Or.has.He.spoken,.and.will.He.not.make.it.good?"..Num..23:19...
.
..........1...Examples:.
...............a...God.is.all-powerful/omnipotent;.man.is.not...cf..Rev..19:6.
...............b...God.is.all-knowing/omniscient;.man.is.not...cf..Psm..147:4-5.
..........2...God.portrays.Himself.in.OT.Scripture.as.a."flesh.and.blood",.finite.individual.in.order.that.we.might.identify.with.
...............Him.and.know.Him.in.a.deeper.sense....
.
II...God.is.like.a.man.of.WAR.
.
......A...Our.modern.culture.tends.to.emphasize.the.more.genteel.attributes.of.God—His.kindness,.compassion,.love,.
............mercy,.and.grace..
............1...Certainly.these.qualities.must.be.stressed.in.any.thorough.study.of.the.Father,.but.it.is.a.mistake.to.dismiss.
.................His.warrior.persona..
.................a...God.is.not.some.milquetoast,.weak-hearted,.soft-spoken,.tender-footed,.mamma's.boy!.
.................b...He.is.portrayed.in.OT.Scripture.as.The.One.Who.fights,.Who.wages.war,.Who.battles.against.sin,.and.who.
.......................is.bent.on.conquest...Exo..15:3.
.
............2...If.we.really.want.to.know.God,.we.must.study.this."warrior-element".of.His.divine.character...Illust:..Christ.in.
.................Matthew,.Mark,.Luke.and.John.give.us.a."3-D".view.of.the.Lord..
.
......B...How.is.God.a.man.of.war?.
.
............1...He.is.mighty..."The.LORD.shall.go.forth.like.a.mighty.man;.He.shall.stir.up.His.zeal.like.a.man.of.war...He.shall.
.................cry.out,.yes,.shout.aloud;.He.shall.prevail.against.His.enemies...Isa..42:13.
.................a...Some.Bible.students.think.this.is.a.reference.to.God's.conquest.over.Babylon.and.Israel's.deliverance.from.
.......................the.Exile..Others.think.may.be.a.foreshadowing.of.the.victory.of.the.Messiah.over.His.enemies,.and.more.
.......................specifically,.over.sin)....
.................b..."Mighty".is.something.to.consider...(Are.we.fighting.with.Him.or.against.Him)?..cf..Acts.5:33-39;.cf..23:9...
............2...He.is.a.deliverer...cf..2.Kgs..6:8ff.
.................a...When.Ben-hadad.sent.a.large.force.to.surround.the.city.of.Dothan.and.apprehend.Elisha,.Elisha's.servant.
......................cried.out.in.fear,."Alas,.my.master!..What.shall.we.do?".
.........................The.prophet.knew.that.a.very.real.danger.existed,.but.he.also.know.something.of.the.militia.arrayed.in.his.
.........................defense...vv..14-15.
.........................He.calmly.told.his.servant,."Do.not.fear,.for.those.who.are.with.us.are.more.than.those.who.are.with.
..........................them."..v..16.
.........................They.may.have.sounded.reassuring,.but.at.that.particular.moment,.no.allied.troops.could.be.seen.in.the.
..........................vicinity..
.........................Elisha.then.prayed.that.his.servant's.eyes.might.be.opened...v..17...
.........................His.petition.was.immediately.answered,.and.suddenly.his.aide.beheld.a.massive,.heavenly.detachment.of.
..........................horses.and.chariots.of.fire...v..17b.
.........................God.then.delivered.these.men.and.struck.the.Syrian.army.with.blindness...v..18.
.................b..."Then.the.Lord.knows.how.to.deliver.the.godly.out.of.temptations.and.to.reserve.the.unjust.under.
.......................punishment.for.the.day.of.judgment."..2.Pet..2:9..
............3...He.is.a.destroyer...cf..Isa..2:12-21.
.................a...The."day.of.the.LORD".will.come.and.the.proud.will.be.reduced.to.their.proper.size...(The.expression.
......................."day.of.the.LORD".is.a.common.Bible.idiom.for.judgment..
.................b...When.this.contest.between.proud.men.and.God.is.over,.the.Lord.will.stand.alone.in.victory...Idolatry.will.
.......................be.destroyed.and.men.will.seek.to.hide.themselves.from.the.wrath.of.God..
.......................1)..The.immediate.application.has.reference.to.impending.captivity..
.......................2)..But.the.principle.points.to.the.final.judgment.....
............4...He.is.fearsome..."For.God.made.my.heart.weak,.and.the.Almighty.terrifies.me."..Job.23:16.
.................a...When.Job.considered.the.awesome.power.of.God,.he.expressed.fear.and.trepidation..
.................b..."It.is.a.fearful.thing.to.fall.into.the.hands.of.the.living.God."..Heb..10:31;.cf.,.Mt..10:28.
.................c...When.the.Lord.saved.Israel.out.of.the.hand.of.the.Egyptians.(Exo..14:30),.Moses.and.the.people.sang.a.song.
......................about.those.who.would.subsequently.hear.of.God's.heavy.hand.against.Egypt.and.fear...cf..Exo..15:14-16.
.................d...Interestingly,.when.the.harlot.Rahab.met.the.two.men.who.were.spying.out.Jericho,.she.mentioned.how.
.......................the.hearts.of.the.people.melted.because.they.had.heard.of.what.Jehovah.had.wrought.against.Egypt.and..
.......................the.Amorites...cf..Jos..2:9-11;.Rom..10:17.
.
III...As.a.Man.of.war,.God.not.only.FIGHTS,.but.He.fights.for.us.
.
.......A...Illust:..Secular.history.reminds.us.of.numerous.fighting.races—the.Samurais,.Huns,.Mongols,.Vikings,.and.Celts..
............Each.possessed.fierce.fighting.skills.and.abilities...But.perhaps.no.group.was.more.renowned.for.its.expert.fighting.
............prowess.than.the.rugged.Spartans...Only.the.hardened.and.strong.survived.in.the.strict.discipline.of.the.Spartan.
............armies...Trained.only.for.battle,.a.young.soldier.knew.but.one.family—his.fellow.comrades.in.arms...Physical.
............development.was.his.primary.goal,.and.each.day.was.devoted.to.exercise.and.military.drills...From.the.tender.age.
............of.seven,.Spartan.boys.no.longer.lived.at.home,.but.were.raised.by.the.state...Training.was.harsh.and.austere,.but.
............each.youth.learned.unwavering.and.absolute.loyalty.to.his.country...Finally,.at.the.age.of.twenty,.each.cadet.
............became.a.full-fledged.member.of.the.Spartan.army...Spartans.were.considered.the.ultimate.warrior.race..
.
............1...God.is.pictured.in.Scripture.as.a.mighty,.delivering,.destroying,.and.fearsome.warrior!.."The.LORD.is.a.man.of.
.................war…"..Exo..15:3..(He.is.a.consummate.warrior)!.................
............2...Brethren,.there.is.no.problem,.there.is.no.enemy,.however.great,.however.intimidating.in.appearance,.that.
.................God.cannot.overcome!.."The.LORD.will.cause.your.enemies.who.rise.against.you.to.be.defeated.before.your.
.................face;.they.shall.come.out.against.you.one.way.and.flee.before.you.seven.ways."..Deut..28:7.
.................a...When.Job.faced.devastation.at.the.hands.of.the.devil,.God.the.warrior.was.with.him...cf..Job.1:12.
.................b...When.Joseph.faced.the.illicit.advances.of.Potiphar's.wife,.the.Bible.says.God.was.with.him...cf..Gen..39:2.
.................c...When.Moses.faced.Pharaoh.and.sought.to.lead.Israel.out.of.bondage,.God.was.with.him...cf..Exo..3:2.
.................d...When.Joshua.faced.the.Canaanites,.God.was.with.him....
.................e...When.Ehud.faced.Eglon.and.eighteen.years.of.Moabite.enslavement,.God.was.with.him...cf..Judg..3:12-30.
..................f...When.the.boy.David.faced.the.nine-foot.giant.of.Gath,.God.was.with.him...cf..1.Sam..17:45-47.
.................g...When.Jesus.faced.the.tempter.in.the.wilderness,.God.was.with.him...cf..Mt..4:11.
.................h...When.Paul.fought.the.figurative."lion".that.sought.to.devour.him,.God.was.with.him...cf..2.Tim..4:16-17.
.
........B...God.not.only.fought.in.the.OT,.but.He.fights.for.us.today!.
.
..............1...Examples:.
....................a...When.a.loved.one.has.passed.into.eternity.and.the.devil.whispers,."You're.alone,.so.just.give.up,".it.is.then.
.........................that.God.will.fight..
....................b...When.the.world.is.cruel.and.unkind.you.and.you.struggle.with.your.faith,.God.will.fight..
....................c...When.you.are.tempted.to.succumb.to.the.wiles.of.the.evil.one,.God.will.fight..."No.temptation.has.
.........................overtaken.you.except.such.as.is.common.to.man;.but.God.is.faithful,.who.will.not.allow.you.to.be.tempted.
.........................that.you.may.be.able.to.bear.it."..1.Cor..10:13.
...................d...When.your.teenager.has.been.led.astray.by.one.of.his.or.her.peers,.God.will.fight..
........................(When.your.daughter.announces.she's.pregnant—and.she's.not.married—God.can.fight)..
...................e...When.your.financial.debt.seems.insurmountable.and.your.future.looks.of.ruin.and.despair,.God.will.fight..
....................f...When.your.doctor.says,."I'm.sorry,.it's.cancer…".and.your.future.is.overshadowed.by.pain.and.uncertainty,.
.........................God.will.fight..
....................g...When.your.marriage.is.in.the.midst.of.a.mighty.storm.and.it.appears.as.though.there.will.be.survivors,.God.
..........................will.fight..
.....................i...When.you.really.want.to.do.right.and.Satan.seeks.to.discourage.and.disappoint.you,.God.will.fight..
.....................j...When.you.watch.the.moral.breakdown.of.society.and.feel.like.saying,."What's.the.use?".remember.that.
..........................God.fights..
.....................k...When.you.stand.in.the.Judgment.and.the.prosecuting.attorney.points.his.finger.at.you.in.slander.and.
..........................condemnation,.remember.that.God.through.His.eternal.Son.will.fight.for.you....
...............2...A.word.of.caution.is.in.order.here..
....................a...In.Acts.5.when.the.Sanhedrin.sought.to.kill.the.apostles.for.preaching.the.gospel.in.Jerusalem,.the.
.........................Pharisee,.Gamaliel,.counseled.his.peers.not.to."fight.against.God."...
....................b...God.is.a.Man.of.war.and.He.has.never.lost.a.single.battle!.....
.
Concl:.
A...God.is.a.Man.of.war.."The.LORD.is.a.man.of.war;.the.LORD.is.His.name."..Exo..15:3.......
B...Listen.to.these.words:.
.
.......
......Soldiers.of.Christ,.arise,.and.put.your.armor.on;.
......Strong.in.the.strength.which.God.supplies,.
......Strong.in.the.strength.which.God.supplies.through.His.beloved.Son..
.
C...God.is.a.Man.of.war—and.He.fights.through.the.His.Son.and.His.word....
.

--Mike Benson