Numbers 21: 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land”

I love how God talks about future battles in past tense.  Just one example is Number 21:34 but this happens all throughout the Old Testament. No horse has been mounted or spear has been sharpened before God is already announcing a winner.  The concept of linear time is just not a huge factor for him like it is for us. It makes sense for a God who “was and is and is to come” (Revelation 1:8), and one whose name is “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14) to speak as if the work is already done and the outcome is decided.  

Granted, this mindset isn’t the best if I’m trying to conjugate a verb for a Spanish test in high school, but any other time…this verb tense paradox of God’s is useful for me to remember.  I can fight my battles differently if I know that not only will he win in the end, but he’s already won.  Today.  Even before the battle is fought.

The kicker is…Moses still had to go to war after Numbers 21:34. In verse 35 he straps on the armor and executes the plan God had laid out, which involved the blood, sweat, and tears of conflict with evil. To get to the outcome that was already decided, pain was involved.  

Isn’t that the same as our lives?  I know God wins in the end, but there are alot of tears to be cried between now and then. 

When I think of Jesus saying “It is finished” on the cross, I don’t think it was only referring to his life and mission on earth.  The rule of sin, the dominion of evil – IT IS FINISHED too – not “It will be finished” but right here and now.  Even as I face the weight of it daily, I can remember that a present tense verb spoken thousands of years ago still applies to me today.  Our Eternal God uses verbs differently than we do!

Today I’m praying for us – all who profess Christ as Lord – that when we feel like wounded warriors, we can remember whose side we are on.  That thesure future victory awaiting us also provides us with current victory too!  Lord, as we face our current struggles, may we be infused with meaning, purpose, confidence, patience and strength to fight the good fight, knowing you have delivered the enemy into our hands.