Exodus 14:13-14 ‘Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
• • DAILY READING – Revelation 20; Isaiah 7-8; Psalm 110

The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest and longest lasting Empires in history. The Ottoman army was the largest in Europe. In 1565, the Islamic army of the Ottoman Empire began marching to conquer Rome and other parts of Europe. Crucial to their plan was to capture the island of Malta, because of its strategic position near the center of the Mediterranean sea. From there it would be easy for them to conquer other surrounding European countries. Many Christians feared that if the invasion was successful, it would mark the end of Christianity in Europe. However as the Ottoman army marched, a group of Christian crusaders in Malta known as the ‘Knights of Malta’ prepared to fight them to the finish. But it was like a David and Goliath situation because the Ottoman empire was regarded as the superpower of that time, while the Knights of Malta were a small defense force originally made up of monks. Moreover, while the knights were only about 8000 men, the Ottoman army, led by the feared Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, was about 40,000 soldiers, including 6,300 Janissaries, fearsome warriors trained as fighters from the age of seven.
Finally, the day came when the great Ottoman army arrived at Malta, expecting an easy victory. But they found the resistance of a much greater level than they had anticipated as the Knights of Malta fought bravely to defeat them. Surprisingly, the Ottoman army began to lose many of their soldiers. After a protracted siege, which became known in history as “the Great Siege”, the Ottoman army, threatened by fast approaching winter storms, and the loss of thousands of their men, conceded defeat and left the area. After this humiliating defeat, the Ottomans made no further significant military advances into Europe and a few years later Sultan Suleiman died. The victory of the ‘Knights of Malta’ became one of the most celebrated events of the sixteenth century. Miraculously the grossly outnumbered knights had been able to win. Logically it didn’t make sense that the Knights could have defeated the army of the great Ottoman empire. It was indeed obvious that they had divine help on their side.
Often, God uses battles that seem impossible to teach us who He is and to display His glory in our midst. This was what happened in Exodus 14 when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh and the red sea.
In Exodus 14:13-14 Moses told them ‘Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
The truth is that every great destiny will be confronted with great battles. Among these battles, there are some you face that may appear mightier than your strength, and tougher than your wisdom. And sometimes because of the complex nature of the battles, you can come to your wits’ end. But those times when all the odds seem stacked against you, always remember that Jehovah is a man of war! He has never lost a battle, and He will never lose any. And when we hold our peace, He fights our battles for us.
When the Egyptian soldiers began to bear down on the Israelites, they began to cry out in terror. And when Moses, in turn, cried unto The Lord, God told him ‘why are you crying to me, speak to the children of Israel that they go forward’
In other words, God was telling them not to get distracted by the opposition, but rather to keep moving forward in their journey. Why? Because the battle was not theirs but The Lord’s.
In the case of the nation of Judah, when they were besieged by three enemy nations, God showed them how to enter their rest and allow Him to fight for them. In II Chronicles 20: 17 God told them to ‘set’ themselves to praise Him and He would take over their battle.
Indeed when any battle looks stronger than your capacity, then it is time to switch to praise. Maybe you have tried your best since the year began and you have still not yet seen the kind of progress you desire. Well, in this second half of the year, engage the weapon of praise and enter your rest as God handles every opposition for you. Praise provokes God’s divine visitation and intervention. And as we make praising God our priority in this season, God will not only grant us ease and speed, but also restoration of every lost ground. Indeed in the midst of high praises, God will make you ride upon your high places.
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You today for the grace to hold my peace, and give You worthy praise while You fight my battles. Thank You, Lord for indeed perfecting all that concerns me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. – Wordbite  222