Victory as an act of God (2)

God is the source of all victory

Deuteronomy 20:1–4 LEB

“If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, an army larger than you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt. And then when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are near today to the battle against your enemies; do not lose heart; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not panic, and you shall not be terrified because of them, for Yahweh your God is going with you to fight for you against your enemies to help you.’

See also 2 Ch 20:15; Ps 18:35; 1 Co 15:57; 2 Co 2:14

Victory is achieved by God, not people

Psalm 20:7–8 LEB

Some boast in chariots and others in horses, but we boast in the name of Yahweh, our God. They will collapse and fall, and we will rise and stand firm.

See also 1 Sa 17:45–47; Ps 44:3–7; Ps 60:11–12; Ps 146:3; Pr 21:31

Victory should be ascribed to God

Psalm 118:15 LEB

The sound of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of Yahweh has done valiantly.

See also Ex 15:1; Ps 21:1; 1 Co 15:57; Re 19:1–2

Victory depends on faithfulness

God grants victory to those who are faithful to him

1 Chronicles 22:13 LEB

Then you will prosper if you take care to do the statutes and judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and be courageous; fear not and do not be dismayed.

See also Ex 23:20–23; Ps 112:8; Pr 2:7

Unfaithfulness to God brings defeat

Numbers 14:41–43 LEB

But Moses said, “Why are you going against the command of Yahweh? It will not succeed. You should not go up because Yahweh is not in your midst; do not let yourselves be defeated in the presence of your enemies, because the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword; because you have turned back from Yahweh, and Yahweh will not be with you.”

See also Dt 28:15; Dt 28:25; 2 Ch 24:20

Examples of God giving victory

Ex 17:8–15 to Israel over the Amalekites

To Joshua at Jericho:

Jos 6:2–5; Jos 6:20

Jdg 7:15–22 to Gideon over the Midianites; Jdg 15:12–19 to Samson over 1,000 Philistines; 1 Sa 7:7–12 to the Israelites at Mizpah; 1 Sa 17:38–50 to David over Goliath; 1 Ki 18:36–39 to Elijah at Mount Carmel; 1 Ch 11:4–9 when David conquered Jerusalem

God is able to work through defeat

Genesis 50:20 LEB

As for you, you planned evil against me, but God planned it for good, in order to do this—to keep many people alive—as it is today.

See also Jdg 16:24; Jdg 16:30; Ro 8:28; 2 Co 4:7–12; 2 Co 12:7–10

God is able to fulfil his purposes through the victory of unbelievers

Isaiah 44:28–45:4 LEB

who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd,’ and he shall carry out all my wishes; and saying of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be rebuilt,’ and the temple, ‘It shall be founded.’ ” Thus says Yahweh to his anointed one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subjugate nations before him, and I uncover the loins of kings to open doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: “I myself will go before you, and I will level the mountains. I will break the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. And I will give you the treasures of darkness and treasures of secret places so that you may know that I am Yahweh, the one who calls you by your name, the God of Israel, for the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen one. And I call you by your name; I give you a name of honor, though you do not know me.

See also Is 41:25; Is 45:13; Eze 33:27–29 This is how Ezekiel is to explain Babylon’s victory over Jerusalem; Ac 2:36; Ac 3:17–18