Articles
Unconventional Warfare
It is highly unlikely any man could have conceived of the various ways God has conquered the enemies of His people, let alone conquer the enemy and adversary of all men — the devil. Consider just a few examples to make the point.
The Israelites. At the time the Israelites were in captivity in Egypt, the Egyptian Empire was likely one of the most powerful in the world, and it is likely they had one of the greatest armies to defend that empire and to conquer other nations, if they so desired. But the Israelites who were then enslaved within the borders of that land, who also had no organized military or any military training, left the land with the plunder of the land (Exod. 12:33-36). When the Pharaoh decided to pursue the Israelites after initially granting them freedom to go, he took a good portion of the Egyptian army — “six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them” (Exod. 14:7) — and pursued the Israelites, and “overtook them camping by the [Red] sea” (Exod. 14:8, 9).
But this nation who had no military training and had no weapons to fight any sort of battle, gained victory over what was then the world’s premier military might. But not alone. When the Egyptians tried to pursue the Israelites after they had crossed the Red Sea on dry land, the same God who gave Mosses power to part the Red Sea for the Israelites closed it in over the pursuing Egyptian army and “the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it” and “the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” (Exod. 14:27). It should be clear that this victory over Egypt was because of the Lord’s power, rather than through ‘conventional warfare.’
Jericho. When the Israelites came into the Promised Land, one of the first cities they would conquer would be Jericho — a walled city (Josh. 1:15) that was “securely shut up because of the children of Israel” (Josh. 6:1). But, instead of ‘conventional warfare’ that would likely include a siege, maybe some battering rams, or flaming arrows sent over the walls [catapults were not known to exist until several hundred years later], the “men of war” of Israel marched around the city with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns once a day for six days and then seven times around the city on the seventh day. On that seventh day, after completing the marches around the city walls, the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted with a great shout, and the walls of Jericho fell (Josh. 6:3-5, 12-21). Not exactly ‘conventional warfare,’ but it worked flawlessly.
As with the case of the Israelites’ Red Sea crossing and victory over the Egyptian army, this was by God’s power, and no one who was eyewitness to it would have argued. God was the source of their victory, and they knew it, and the news of this victory would no doubt be known soon amongst others in Canaan.
Goliath. We are likely familiar with the story of David and Goliath; David, a young shepherd boy faces a literal giant of a Philistine warrior and wins. Goliath — all 9’-9” of him, with “a bronze helmet on his head,…armed with a coat of mail” weighing “five thousand shekels of bronze” [over 150 pounds] and having also “bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders…” and carrying a massive spear (1 Sam. 17:4-7) was met by a shepherd boy inexperienced in ‘conventional warfare’ and carrying only a sling and five smooth stones (1 Sam. 17:40). It’s no wonder Goliath saw this and exclaimed, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” and cursed David by his gods (1 Sam. 17:43).
But we know ‘the rest of the story,’ don’t we? David answered Goliath, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you” (1 Sam. 17:45, 46). And David did just as he said he would, and the Lord gave him victory.
Our Battles, Our Victories. The first thing we must realize — whether a believer or an unbeliever — is that our battles are not of the physical/material realm anymore. As Paul put it, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:3-6). The main point we must see in this is that our battles today are not physical/material in nature, but a battle for the minds of men who are still under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19).
The personal battles we face require us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10) — again, not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). We must take up our “shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16) as he tries to eliminate another defender of the faith, truth, and righteousness. Remember, he is our “adversary [who] walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
This battle, like the others we have already considered, is one we must not think we fight alone. Note that Paul said the weapons of our warfare “are…mighty in God” — He is the supplier of the power and weapons by which we can defeat our spiritual adversary. Note, too, that Paul recognized from whom his strength to fight derived: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Whatever power or ability we have to overcome temptations and trials is going to come from God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13) but here’s the thing: That doesn’t mean He is doing it all. We have to take that “way of escape” that we may be “able to bear it” when the temptations come; we have to wield those weapons of warfare; we have to “Resist the devil” that he will flee from us (Jas. 4:7); we have to “take up the whole armor of God” and “stand” (Eph. 6:13, 14). When we do all of these things with God, it is only then we can be assured of victory. We cannot sit back and wait for God to do everything; we must do our part.
Yes, God gave the Israelites victory over the Egyptians, but they had to get up and leave Egypt and have faith in God, crossing through the Red Sea. Yes, God gave Israel victory over Jericho, but they had to march around the city, blow the trumpets and shout just as He commanded, and have faith that God would give them victory. Yes, God gave David victory over Goliath, but he had to use those stones and the sling and get out on the battlefield to face the enemy. In every case, their faith in God — coupled with the unequaled power of God — was what brought victory (cf. Heb. 11:30).
In none of these Old Testament examples did we see anyone claim victory by their own works or deeds, but all recognized that through faith in God and by the power of God, their obedience [faith in action] brought victory, and God was glorified because of it. Unconventional warfare! — Steven Harper
