When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, (Deuteronomy 20:1 ESV)
War is always scary. When Moses tells Israel to not be afraid if they go to war, he is speaking of a an extremely likely emotional reaction. Israel was not yet the mighty nation of David’s time. Israel had not yet been established as the powerhouse of the Middle East. Israel did not yet have an army of Joshua’s ninja fighters, David’s Mighty Men, or Solomon’s trained charioteers.
If Moses’ Israel went to war, they would be out-numbered, out-skilled, out-trained, and out-experienced. Israel would be wielding sticks and stones, and their enemies would be wielding swords, spears, and horse-hooves.
It would be reasonable for the warring Israelites to be afraid.
But Moses knows what he is talking about. First, any war during Moses’ (or Joshua’s) time would be a war commanded by God. God would accomplish His goals. Israel had nothing to fear.
Second, perhaps because the Israelites would be fighting under a disadvantage, those Israelites would be fighting in faith. And God honors faith.
Third, Moses understood that whether the Israelites had more or less soldiers than the enemy… more or less weapons than the enemy… more or less training than the enemy… more or less fighting-reputation than the enemy… It is always God who wins.
And that is Moses’ point. God always wins.
So the best way to avoid fear in the conflict of our lives is to be on God’s side.
Fear not, because God is on the side of His people.