CALLED OR COMPELLED? G-D IS NOT DESPERATE

D’varim 20:1-9; Read T’hillim (Psalm) 3

“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the L-RD your God is with you . . . As you draw near to the battle, the kohen shall approach and speak to the soldiers, and say . . . ‘Hear O Israel . . . do not let your hearts faint, do not fear, and do not tremble, nor be terrified . . . for the L-RD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you . . . to deliver you. . . . Who has built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go and return . . . Who has planted a vineyard? . . . go and return . . . Who has become engaged . . . go and return . . .Who is fearful and fainthearted? . . . go and return.’”

It would seem that in going up against a formidable enemy, one would be eager to recruit the largest number of soldiers possible. Not so with G-d. G-d is not desperate. He is neither desperate for quantity of people, nor for resources. He is content to allow seemingly “needed” people to go home instead of remaining to fight. This would not appear the case with some Ministry organizations, where desperate, guilt-inducing appeals are used to recruit resources of people and finances. Indeed we would learn this principle: urgency is not necessarily spirituality. It can be, but it also often is not. Hasty decisions fostered out of fear or guilt -- prompted through pressure from frantic persons - are usually followed by regret. “He that believes shall not make haste” - Is. 28:16.

God knows that winning requires total focus and devotion. He would rather work with the few who are devoted, then the many who are distracted.
“And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, ‘LORD, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude.’” 2 Chron. 14:11.
“Then said David to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’” - I Sam. 17:45.
“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” - 2 Chr. 32:7-8.
“Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. . .” - Ps. 27:3.
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” - Rom. 8:31.

One cannot compete well if divided in commitment. This is why the L-rd tells many to go home - but without condemnation - for G-d is not desperate. We do not serve the L-rd in our humanity’s capacity because we are compelled out of obligation. We serve Him because we are called through His Word of grace which imparts Divine capacity (Acts 20:32). The kohen (priest) spoke G-d’s Word to the people, the officers echoed it, and the people were empowered and released from fear. As the Kohen Gadol (Great Priest) speaks to me, I am strengthened and can do all things through Him (Dan. 10:19; Phil. 4:13). For freedom, Messiah has set us free . . . that we might attend upon the Lord without distraction (Gal. 5:1; I Cor. 7:35).

Spiritual authority is empowering, not demolishing. It does not feel the need to contain and control, but is anointed to release, to energize, to mobilize (2 Cor. 1:24; 10:8). God does not corral us out of desperate urgency, but He calls us and furnishes us through grace - for He knows both who will win, and how to win.

Rabbi Ken Alpren