Topical Bible: War: God: Gives the Victory In

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Throughout the Bible, the theme of God granting victory in warfare is a recurring motif that underscores His sovereignty, power, and faithfulness to His people. The Scriptures consistently depict God as the ultimate source of victory, emphasizing that success in battle is not merely a result of human strength or strategy, but a divine gift bestowed upon those who trust in Him.

Old Testament Examples

1. The Exodus and the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-14): One of the most dramatic demonstrations of God granting victory is the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. As the Egyptian army pursued the Israelites, Moses assured the people, "Do not be afraid; stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still" . God miraculously parted the sea, allowing the Israelites to escape and subsequently destroying the Egyptian forces.

2. The Conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6:2-5): The fall of Jericho is another powerful example of God granting victory. The LORD instructed Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its mighty men of valor" . The unconventional strategy of marching around the city and the subsequent collapse of its walls highlighted that the victory was orchestrated by God, not by human might.

3. Gideon’s Victory over the Midianites (Judges 7:2-7): God reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men to ensure that Israel would recognize that their victory over the Midianites was due to divine intervention. The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand" . This victory underscored that God’s power is made perfect in human weakness.

4. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-47): David’s triumph over Goliath is a classic example of God granting victory against overwhelming odds. David declared to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" . David’s victory was attributed to his faith in God’s power rather than his own prowess.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not focus on physical warfare in the same manner as the Old Testament, the concept of God granting victory is applied to spiritual battles. Believers are encouraged to rely on God’s strength to overcome spiritual adversaries.

1. Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6:10-13): The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" . The victory in spiritual warfare is achieved through the armor of God, signifying reliance on divine strength rather than human effort.

2. Victory through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57): Paul proclaims, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" . This victory is over sin and death, achieved through the redemptive work of Christ, and serves as the ultimate triumph for believers.

Theological Implications

The biblical narrative consistently affirms that God is the source of victory in both physical and spiritual battles. This theme reinforces the belief in God’s omnipotence and His active involvement in the affairs of His people. It encourages believers to place their trust in God rather than in human strength or wisdom, recognizing that true victory is a manifestation of His will and power.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 21:3
And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
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Deuteronomy 2:33
And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
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Deuteronomy 3:3
So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.
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2 Samuel 23:10
He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword: and the LORD worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
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Proverbs 21:31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
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Library

The End of the War
... departure was the signal that the war was ended ... conviction that Christ, and Christ
only, gives all their ... repetition of one thought, that of God's punctual and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of the war.htm

Peace on Earth through Righteousness
... if God gives us the victory we must use it for the perpetuation of righteous peace.
In these words I sum up what seems to me the Christian doctrine of war and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/van dyke/what peace means/ii peace on earth through.htm

The Triumph of Humility.
... be on the side of pride, yet the victory always remains ... sacred and profane, is but
a record of this war. ... God, and if these are well trained, God gives them the ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/section xii the triumph of humility.htm

Of the Miseries of this Life which Attach Peculiarly to the Toil ...
... to themselves, in so far as they make war upon their ... can only refuse consent to it,
as God gives us ability ... too long on some evil thing which gives us pleasure ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 23 of the miseries of.htm

Peace and victory
... own victorious life, and make your hands strong to war and your ... of brave warfare,
He is even the Son of God, who gave Himself for us, and gives Himself to ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/peace and victory.htm

How Agreeable all virtues are to God.
... the mercy of the midwives and the justice of the war of the ... save itself from the
precipice: for if we overcome, God gives us the victory through Jesus Christ ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i how agreeable all.htm

The Laws of Grace, which Extend to all the Epochs of the Life of ...
... we must declare war upon vices, and wage this war keenly, lest ... and it is faith in
Christ that gives this. ... when they are conquered by the love of God, which God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 16 the laws of grace.htm

The victory of the King
... He did not say that, if he gives a kingdom to ... it is to lead all men to worship God
alone; therefore ... all the baits, but the ringing proclamation of war to the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the victory of the king.htm

Victory Over Death.
... What are war, and trade, and labour, and professions? ... from living out of habits of
affectionate obedience to God. ... And there is no faith that gives a victory so ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xvii victory over death.htm

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem. AD 70
... Titus is reported to have publicly declared that God, by a ... [549] Josephus, who went
through the war himself from ... I will not hesitate to say what gives me pain ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 38 the jewish war.htm