DCLM Daily Manna – 16th November 2025 Devotional Message Written By Pastor W.F Kumuyi
Read DCLM Daily Manna – 16th November 2025, Sunday Devotional Message.
TOPIC: The Cost Of Wars
KEY VERSE
“When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt”. (Deuteronomy 20:1).
SCRIPTURE READING: Deuteronomy 20:1-9
1 “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2 So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. 3 And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 4 for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’
5 “Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. 6 Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it. 7 And what man is there who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.’
8 “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, [a]lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’ 9 And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.
DCLM Daily Manna – 16th November 2025 | MESSAGE
U.S. Army Veteran William Meinert said, from experience, while analysing the options of war or peace: “The cost of going to war is always more expensive, both in terms of money spent and lives ruined and lost. An aircraft can last twenty years, fly hundreds of sorties, and fulfil its mission in peace. In war, it may be destroyed on the first day and must be replaced. A soldier can serve for thirty years, raise a family, retire, and pursue a new career. He may die childless in the first minutes of a conflict. He may also serve a tour in a war zone and spend the rest of his life crippled with mental illness, forcing others to help him with their time and money.” War is always to be avoided unless it becomes the only option.
In today’s passage, God tells the Israelites that war was the only option for surviving the hostilities from enemy nations. However, the military might of their enemies would not determine the outcome, as victory was always assured for God’s people. After all, God brought them out of Egypt despite the superpower status of their oppressors.
The priests were given the responsibility to encourage the people not to fear, bear the Ark of the Covenant, and offer sacrifices and prayers to God before the battle began. Those whose conditions would make them reluctant to fight were to be excused from battles. These include anyone who newly bought a house and had not dedicated it, planted a vineyard and had not eaten of it, or betrothed a wife and had not taken her in – lest they die in battle and leave all their possessions to others. Also excluded were the fearful so they would not weaken the faith of others.
Wars are costly and disruptive. But the Christian is not called to fight physical wars against flesh and blood but a spiritual battle. In this fight of faith, as in the case of Israel, God remains our confidence and we need not fear the foe because our victory is guaranteed. God requires us to be brave and true. Those who are reluctant, fearful, pleasure-seeking, and worldly-minded are still not suitable for the army of the Lord.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Even in spiritual wars, there is still room for gallantry.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Ezekiel 18 – 21
About Author – Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.