Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?

Backlash and Retaliation

I want to start from the premise that we have followed a scriptural foundation for going to war.  Our God is a man of war (Exodus 15:3).  He has already set in place the tactics and timing (Ecclesiastes 3:8) in calling us to the battle.

The following passages in Deuteronomy and Psalms are biblical direction and warnings for us as we approach a time and place for engaging against the enemy:

“For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.  And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it

And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart” (Deuteronomy 20:3-8). 

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). 

 “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Proverbs 15:22 ). 

“Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war”  (Proverbs 20:18). 

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 24:6). 

Also consider the insight 1 Chronicles 5:18-22 gives us: 

“…And they (the Israelites) were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in Him…For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God.”  (emphasis mine) 

Going to war is never our decision; we must know and respond only to the call of the Lord. 

As we move into this subject of retaliation and backlash let us first define the terms themselves. Whereas they are not scriptural words, we will study them from our modern language: 

Retaliation—to return like for like; the doing of that to another which has been done to you, especially to get revenge. Synonyms— counterstrike, reprisal, punishment, countercharge, vengeance.  (Webster’s)

Backlash—a quick, sharp, recoil to violently drive back.  (Webster’s)  

 “…Vengeance (retribution; revenge; punishment; vindication. Gr1557) belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord” (Hebrews 10:30). 

The above passage in Hebrews speaks clearly that vengeance/retaliation belongs to the Lord and the enemy has no legal claim to it. Would the enemy like to get revenge on us?  Most likely.  Does he, however, possess enough power to return “like for like,” and is he able to “violently drive us back” as the army of the Lord?  Let’s look at what scripture tells us. 

 “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited (to rend, open the mouth, deliver, utter. He6458) with evil (to spoil by breaking to pieces, to make or be good for nothing, harm, do mischief, bad, adversity, affliction, calamity, displeasure, distress, sorrow, trouble. He7451/ 7489)”  (Proverbs 19:23). 

 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear (to be frightened, to dread. He3372)? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (to be startled by a sudden alarm, to fear, make to shake. He6342)? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear (He3372): though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble (to spoil by breaking to pieces, to make or be good for nothing, harm, do mischief, bad, adversity, affliction, calamity, displeasure, distress, sorrow, trouble. He7451/7489) He shall hide (to hide by covering over, to protect, to keep secret. He6845) me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord”  (Psalm 27:1-6). 

“O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered (to entwine as a screen, cover, defense, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up. He5526) my head in the day of battle” (Psalm 140:7). 

“If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither ye the people of the land; for they are bread (to feed on, to battle as destruction; overcome, prevail. He3899/3898) for us: their defense (shade, defense. He6738) is departed (to turn off, decline, leave undone, pluck away, remove, withdraw, be without. He5493) from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:8-9). 

“No weapon (artillery, armor, any apparatus, something prepared. He3627) that is formed against thee shall prosper (to push forward, to come mightily, be profitable. He6743); and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn (to declare wrong, to disturb, to violate, to make trouble, to vex. He7561). This is the heritage of the saints of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17). 

“Behold, I give unto you power (privilege, in the sense of ability; force; capacity; competency, mastery; freedom; magistrate, jurisdiction, right. Gr1849) to tread (to trample; tread down under foot; to hit as with a single blow; smite; strike. G3961/3817) on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (force; ability; might; strength; violence. Gr1411) of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt (to be unjust; do wrong morally, socially, physically; injury; hurt; do/suffer/take wrong. Gr91) you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject (to subordinate; to obey; to be under obedience; subject to; submit self unto. G5292) unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:19-20). 

 “Blessed be the Lord my strength (sharp rock ; refuge, that which fortifies, encloses He6697), which teacheth (instructs, makes expert, skillful. He3925) my hands to war, and my fingers to fight”   (Psalm 144:1 ). 

“Who are kept (to be a watcher in advance; to mount guard as a sentinel; to post spies at the gates; to hem in; keep with a garrison. Gr5432) by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”  (I Peter 1:5). 

Truly the Lord Himself is our provision for protection and safety.  It is He who stations Himself as a guard round about us, hems us in and acts as our watchmen.  What enemy is there that can surpass or overtake the Lord? 

Some teach that Paul suffered a thorn in the flesh because he engaged in spiritual warfare. This is not what the Bible teaches. Scripture says that Paul was allowed to suffer a thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7) lest he become exalted by the great revelations he had. 

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of  the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”  

Fearing that the enemy can retaliate against us at his will is having a belief that the darkness is greater than the Light that weapons fashioned against us can prosper that we are not hidden in Christ. 

It serves to lead us to operate in fear of punishment and unbelief. Where Satan can interfere in our lives is when we are in sin, such as unforgiveness:   

“To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage (to be covetous; to over-reach, defraud, make a gain. Gr4122) of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (Corinthians 2:10-11). 

In conclusion, this is not to say that there is no “cost” in spiritual warfare. Jesus said, “Count the cost” (Luke 14:26-33) before we undertake ANY endeavor.  I submit however that it is not the enemy who determines the cost; it is our God.  No matter what our calling, there will be tests of endurance in that arena.  No matter what our ministry, we are called to take up the cross and follow Jesus.   

The Lord knows what I need to gain more of the full stature and measure of Christ.  If the Lord, in His sovereign sight and understanding, knows I need to build up more spiritual muscle so to speak, He’s going to provide opportunities for me to meet with resistance.  In the natural, experiencing physical resistance builds our muscles.  The Lord employs resistance from the enemy to build up our spiritual muscles.  If I never met with a confrontation from the enemy I would have no means to build up my spiritual strength.  Our Father always knows what we need, and makes provision for that need, including the building up of our most holy faith.  

There is a cost in the Kingdom.  We need to not only be willing to pay the cost, but rejoice in the midst of it.