The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.
-Exodus 15:3
When you think about God, what images come to mind? A gentle grandfather with a long beard who lives in the sky? A giant king with a big throne? The Bible describes God in many different ways, but one of the most common descriptions is a warrior. A warrior’s job is to protect his nation from danger. In today’s language, we often call them “soldiers.”
The book of Exodus describes how God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. He did it by performing a series of signs and wonders before Pharaoh, the Egyptian king. After demonstrating his power over Pharaoh and the (false) gods of Egypt, God led his people to the edge of the Red Sea. But Pharaoh’s army pursued God’s people and they had nowhere to go. Rather than let his people die, God fought for them. He opened the Red Sea so that the people could cross to the other side on dry ground. When Pharaoh’s army followed, God closed the sea back over them so that they could no longer pursue God’s people.
In the aftermath of that event, the Bible records a song sung by Moses and the rest of God’s people, praising God for his miraculous deliverance. In that song, we find these words: “The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.”
Do you think of God as a warrior? The Bible says he is! If we are on God’s side, it should be comforting to know that we have a strong warrior to protect us. When you think about God, don’t just think of him as the “old man in the sky.” Remember that he is a warrior who protects his people.