I’ve never been in a battle, but I hear they’re awful. I have military friends who have been in firefights in the Middle East and in other places, and the general consensus is that there is no shortage of fear across the line. The only difference is that some let it control them, while others are able to overcome it.
When you read Moses’ instructions to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 20:8, that seems to be what’s happening here as well. Moses tells everyone afraid that they are free to go home—a clause that I’m sure many exercised (and probably abused) on several occasions.
But the key isn’t just that they’re afraid; it’s that they’re also fainthearted. These are soldiers who despair at the sight of battle, even though God Himself has said He will be with them.
We see this put into practice in Judges 7:3, when Gideon stands before his army and tells “whoever is afraid and trembling” to simply leave. 22,000 men take him up on this offer, taking his army down to ten thousand strong.
Why this clause? It’s not just because God has compassion on those who are fearful, but because God recognizes the impact of fear on the rest of the army.
Think about it. If you’re standing on a battle line, staring at a group of warriors on the other side that will kill you the moment they get too close, the last thing you want is to feel fear in the people around you. You need every single man to be as strong as possible; otherwise, the sheer weight of the opposing army will overwhelm you.
But fear also creates a sense of uncertainty. What does he know that I don’t? When the time comes to fight, will he stay there or leave me exposed? Can I depend on him to support me?
Fear operates like a virus: The moment it hits one person, it can easily infect others around them. Before you know it, the battle is lost.
That’s why God dismisses those people for service. The last thing He wants is the battle to be over before it begins.
What’s the solution, then? Nobody is immune to fear; it’s a natural emotion that we all feel, and usually comes about for valid reasons. How do we suppress it?
Here’s the answer: We don’t. Instead, we allow our faith in God’s power and presence to stand up against the forces against us. We don’t have trust in ourselves as much as we do in God. He’s the One who will win the day.