During biblical times, horses were used in the military . They were symbol of power and might. The military strength of an army was known by the number of horses, horsemen and chariots they had. The higher their numbers, the more strong the army was. The kings heavily relied on their military might to win the battle against their rivals. It is said of the horses of Chaldeans that they were swifter than leopards and more fierce than the evening wolves and that their horsemen fly swiftly like hungry eagle rushing to eat (Hab 1:8).
But in keeping with the Law of Moses, the kings of the Israel shall not acquire large numbers of horses in order to build a strong army (Deu 17:16). God wanted them to renounce their reliance on horses, horsemen and chariots. There absolute dependence shall be on their Lord who brought them out of the Egyptian slavery.
God fights for those who trust in Him
"When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you." - Deu 20:1
When Israelites went out of the Egypt, the Egyptians pursued them with all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops (Exo 14:9). Israelites did not had army. Ahead of them was Red sea and behind them was all Egyptian army. There was no way out and they were greatly afraid. However the Lord fought for them and the entire Egyptian army was drowned in the Red sea. Not one among them survived (Exo 14:28).
The Ethiopians were a mighty army with a great number of chariots and horsemen (2 Chro 14:9, 16:8). They came out against Judah during the reign of Asa. Asa found his army weak against the mighty army of Ethiopians. Yet he relied on the Lord, his God, rather than relying on other kings for support. He cried to the Lord his God and therefore the Lord defeated the Ethiopians (2 Chro 14:11,12).
Jehoshaphat was frightened when a large army of Ammonites and Moabites came to attack Judah. He chose, however, to follow the Lord and declared a fast for all of Judah. In prayer, Jehoshaphat led the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem. In the presence of the Lord, he admitted that they had no strength to defend against this large army and that they did not know what to do. His prayer was heard by the Lord and the enemy was defeated. Jehoshaphat won the war without fighting (2 Chro 20:1-30).
Trust in the Lord and Let Him fight your battles
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord." - Isa 31:1
What are the horses in your life on which you rely and trust? Perhaps it’s your education, your skills, your intelligence, your appearance, your work, your wealth, your savings, your insurance, your employer, your parents, your spouse, your kids, your friends, the economy of your country, and so on. All these are uncertain things and are of shifting nature. Many of those who trusted in all these unreliable things have failed miserably in their life’s battlefield. They have gone into the depths of despair. Covid-19 has taught us that all these fleeting things on which we put our trust are nothing but a sinking sand!
Proverbs 11:28 states that those who trust in their riches will fall. In 1 Timothy 6:17, Paul says that we should not trust in our money which is so unreliable. But that our trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. In Isaiah 26:3, perfect peace is promised to those who are depending and trusting in God. They do not fear bad news because they confidently trust the Lord to care for them (Psa 112:7). Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be shaken but remains forever (Psa 125:1). There joy and peace are not dependant on their circumstances!
"No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine." - Psa 33:16-19
You can get your horses fit for battle, but the Lord alone can grant you victory (Pro 21:31). Repent and say to the Lord that we will not depend on our horses (Hos 14:3). Do not trust your horses, rather trust the Creator of horses. Don’t trust the uncertain gifts, rather trust the Giver of gifts who is everlasting and unchanging God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8). Amen and Amen.
