Israel not to Fight

God did not design that the people should do any fighting. He led them through the wilderness, in order that they might not see war. Yet He knew that if they went the way that they did, the Egyptians would surely pursue them. The children of Israel never had any greater need of fighting than they did when the Egyptians closed in on them by the Red Sea; yet the word then was, “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” ^{4Exodus 14:14.}EVCO 206.4

It may be said that the reason why the Lord did not wish them to see war was because they were as yet unprepared for fighting; but we must remember that on other occasions when they had many trained warriors, God often delivered them without their striking a blow. When we consider the circumstances of their deliverance from Egypt—how it was all accomplished by the direct power of God, without any human power, their part being only to follow and obey His word—we must be convinced that it was not according to the plan of God that they should do any fighting, even in self-defence.EVCO 206.5