Chapter 20

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. (Deuteronomy  20:1)

When you see the majority against you, don’t be afraid. The battle does not belong to you. The battle belongs to the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

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 like his heart.’ (Deuteronomy 20:8)

Fear can be transmitted from one person to another person and even a group of people 

Fear is contagious – that is the bad news, but so is faith and that is the good news.

Secular studies have shown that humans release chemosignals in sweat when they are scared or stressed. Studies have also shown that chemosignals in human sweat may transmit information about emotion to people who smell them.

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 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. (Deuteronomy 20: 5-9)

An interesting list of requirements found in Deuteronomy 20, concerning those who would be allowed to fight in the army of God.

It was a weeding out process done to ensure that only those in the right frame of mind spiritually were allowed to take part in the battle.

There were 4 things that affected their readiness to be effective in battle for the Lord. Those to be excused from battle were:

1. men who had recently finished or brought a new home,

2. men who had recently planted a vineyard

3. men engaged but not yet married, and

4. men who were faint-hearted (fearful), or simply, whose hearts were not in the battle

Any man who fell into one of these categories was to go home. It was better to be without them than for them to negatively affect the other warriors on the battlefield. 

A distracted, half-hearted, faint-hearted, or frightened person couldn’t be relied upon to stand in battle. From the men left, they were to choose the leaders of the army.

Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Serve the Lord without distraction” (1 Corinthians 7:35)

God is still looking for followers who will not allow the cares of this world to overpower them. He seeks those who will forsake all and follow Him.

Spiritual warfare must not be fought with fear. Spiritual warfare must be out of faith