Proverbs 21:31 (KJV)

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

There is a dichotomy of wisdom seen in many former leaders, especially in early Israel and later American history. This is, to prepare for battle but trust in the Lord. 

• Joshua
• David
• Josiah 

and others of biblical history saw no conflict between preparation and faith. 

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson all knew the value of being well prepared but understood also that their faith must be in the Lord and not their preparations. Human strength, no matter how mighty, can never overcome God. 

I read of a particular engagement in WWII where the British planned to rescue the troops trapped in Dunkirk. The enemy had the upper hand and England had no military vessels with which to rescue their soldiers. A call was made for every man who had a boat to volunteer to help bring those boys home. And then a call was made for prayer. The leaders of England knew that these boats would be easy targets for the Germans without divine intervention. At the set hour they say that people stopped their cars, salesmen stopped their trades, Englanders, wherever they were and whatever they were doing, stopped and prayed. 

And a fog rolled in. The fog was so heavy that Germans could not fly the planes and the u-boats could not find their targets. God provided a miracle and saved the soldiers to fight another day. 

Ronald Reagan understood this dichotomy. He believed firmly in God and rested in his faith. At the same time he worked to build a powerful fighting force. Donald Trump seems to have this same understanding. 

It is not lack of faith to prepare for the day of battle. But faith in preparation would be misplaced faith indeed. 

To my readers:
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Proverbs 21:31 (KJV) Prepare and Believe

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