Trusting God Who Will Fight For You Series

I was walking home elementary school when I encountered one of my many fights as a younger man. The weekend before, my family and I, went to the drive-in to see one of my favorite actors, Bruce Lee in “The Last Dragon”. It was a normal occurrence for me to act out the movie with my friends as if I was Bruce Lee after one of his movies. So I’m jumping in the air, chopping, pausing for a moment in my martial arts stands, lips moving but words coming out seconds later, all the things a boy would after seeing a movie of fighting.

As we walked, I jumped to kick and someone behind me pushed me. I accidentally kicked a young lady in her behind.

Needless to say she wasn’t having it. I apologized and went on about my business acting out Bruce Lee’s martial arts expertise. Again, I jumped and was pushed from behind and again I kicked the same girl in the same place, again! I apologized but this time she was determined make it a big deal so I made it a big until her huge brother came over and was ready to fight.

I wasn’t a fighter. My motto was he who runs fast lives a long time. So I did what I always did, I ran home. When I got to the door my grandfather met me at the door; “Who you running from boy!” He wanted an answer and at this point no answer I gave would have been good enough. I told him the story and his response was; “Boy, go back and fight because nobody is going to fight for you! Or, You will have to fight me for running.”

Well, I went back to fight.

Over the years even until this day I still here the voice of my grandfather say; “Nobody is going to fight for you!”

Although not revealed until 1Samuel 1, there is a "preview" of Jehovah Sabaoth in Joshua 5:14,15.

Joshua in obedience to Jehovah had just commanded circumcision & Israel had kept the Passover. Now on the verge of a major military campaign (a picture of the spiritual warfare of all believers) not only against Jericho but against all of the Canaanites throughout the land was surely in need of Divine encouragement. And so we come to this fascinating encounter...

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, & Joshua went to him & said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries ?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as CAPTAIN (Prince) of the HOST (Sabaoth) of Jehovah (NIV = commander of the Lord’s army] and Joshua fell on his face to the earth and bowed down and said to Him, "What has my lord to say to His servant?" The captain of the Jehovah’s host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so." (Joshua 5:13, 14, 15)

It is interesting that the NKJV capitalizes "Commander", clearly indicating that the translators feel this individual is divine. The context supports this encounter is almost certainly another "Christophany" (pre incarnate appearance of the Messiah). (cf "Angel of the LORD"). Note that although there is a chapter break at, the narrative seems to continue without break & in (Josh 6:2, 3, 4, 5) Jehovah addresses Joshua with encouragement & instruction...

"Jehovah said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king & the valiant warriors. "You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for 6 days. Also 7 priests shall carry 7 trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. Then on the 7th day you shall march around the city 7 times & the priests shall blow the trumpets (Josh 6:2, 3, 4, 5)

And so we see the "Captain of Sabaoth" meeting Joshua, a man preparing for war & in need of assurance of God’s presence, provision & power, which provides a great preview of truth revealed in the revelation of the LORD of hosts.

Jehovah-Sabaoth is a military name of God, for hosts comes from the a Hebrew word that means to wage war. The Lord is the Commander of the hosts and heaven: the stars, the angels, the armies of Israel (Ex. 12:41), and to all who trust in Him (Psalms 46:7,11).

We see this military name of God in 1 Samuel 17, in the story of David fighting and defeating Goliath.

We see this military term in the Septuagint text of James 5:14, where James instructs the rich to be careful of hoarding and getting over on those who are poor to become richer. So in James 5:4, he says, “For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you held back cry out against you. The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Jehovah-Sabaoth – The Lord Almighty.