My kids just started football and volleyball for the year at our small Christian School. It's even smaller than last year because of some drastic changes they had to make...increased tuition, staffing changes etc. and anyway...it is smaller. We have 8 girls on the varsity volleyball team and about 15 varsity football players, about 10 junior high players. Everyone is hoping to be able to talk more into participating once school starts next week.
So a couple of nights ago I actually went to be early...about 11:30... and decided to see what God had for me. I asked...He said "D".... I thought Deuteronomy? Really ? Well that's probably just a head thing. Not God at all. So I said, O.K. Deuteronomy what? He said "20".
So opening to Deut. 20 I found myself smack in the middle of some lectures God was giving the Israelites. Now for me the Israelites mean God's chosen. His children. Not just the Jews but all of his children. We are his by adoption. (Romans 9:8) So I can use his lectures to his children to learn more about His nature and why His laws still work today.
So I started to read...
1 “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
2 So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. 3 And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 4 for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
So first we got a reminder. We might not have the biggest army on the field. We might be small but we have GOD! and we are not supposed to fear.
But the next part of the chapter is what floored me. I mean, OK God, I know we aren't supposed to fear. You are with us. We will make the best with what we have. You can make our little group strong, you can make us victorious. But did he tell us to recruit? Did he say make sure you hold off on the battle till you get more players? No, He said to thin the herd! Prune the bush! Weed out the fearful, the distracted, those who might have regrets - even those who just haven't seen the fruit of something they have worked for and might get disappointed if they miss it!
5 “Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.
6 Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it.
7 And what man is there who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.’
8 “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint[a] like his heart.’
9 And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
So after the crowd was diminished - to only those who were dedicated, willing and without fear - those were the ones who were led into battle fully persuaded of their mission and what they were to accomplish.
And so we come to this year at CCS. We are smaller in number and our sports teams are rebuilding. We are entering the battle for the lives of our children and their futures against massive armies of influence with only a small band of believers. But these believers are dedicated - they are consecrated for His Service - they are fully persuaded that Clovis Christian School is where they belong and they are heading in without fear for the future.
It's going to be fun watching our teams this year. As we go out as witnesses for Him I hope we can shock and amaze as we let God do his part, like he has been faithful to do in the past.
