– Rev. Rafael Martinez, Pastor – Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church
“The Lord says to you thus: Do not fear or be intimidated in front of this great multitude, for the war is not yours, but God’s.” [2 Chronicles 20:15]
When you do an action, something has to happen in response, but there are moments in life where God’s intervention is more than necessary to achieve success.
In 2 Chronicles 20, it is related how the children of Moab and the children of Ammon came to war against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. They were afraid when they knew that the war was coming, but they did not sit idly by. Josaphat did some important things in preparing for the defense:
• He humbled his face to inquire of Jehovah (Jehovah’s guidance is essential to achieve success not only in our spiritual lives, but in all areas of our lives).
• He made all Judah proclaim a fast (prayer and fasting are vital and important in the spiritual world).
• Those from the city of Jehovah all came together to ask Jehovah for help (when two or more come together for the same purpose they make a big difference).
• In the midst of the congregation of Judah, in the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat, who was king at that time, began to pray to God, to remember and proclaim what God had done for his people and for his ancestors. before. (Good leaders encourage and lead the people to seek and depend on God).
• Note carefully what Jehoshaphat says to Jehovah in verse 12: “O our God! won’t you judge them? Because in us there is no strength against so great a multitude that comes against us; We don’t know what to do, and we turn our eyes to you. (It is important to come humble before God and recognize our dependence on him).
How many times have we felt like Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah?
We want peace and they want to come and make war on us. When we think we are calm, some problems and concerns arise that try to steal our peace and joy. It is very interesting that they recognized before God that they did not have enough strength to face the crowd that came to attack them. They confess that they do not know what to do in such a situation and even more so they turn their eyes to Jehovah. Because the key to victory will be that you approach God with sincerity and that you remain with your eyes set NOT on adversity, not on what is presented to you, NOT on what you hear or think you see. But your gaze has to be set solely on God. To gain victory, numbers don’t matter, what matters is who you have with you in battle.
In the midst of the cry of that people, God sends his response through Jahaziel, a Levite from the sons of Asaph, in whom the Spirit of Jehovah comes in the midst of the meeting and gives them these words: “Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid or Be intimidated in front of this huge crowd, because the war is not yours, but God’s.” He instructs them to come down the next day and he tells them: “There will be no reason for you to fight in this case; Stand still, be still, and see the salvation of Jehovah in you. O Judah and Jerusalem, do not fear or dismay; Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD will be with you.”
They heard Jehovah’s message, prostrated themselves and worshiped Jehovah. The Levites got up and praised the LORD with a loud voice. The people listened to those instructions and obeyed them. The next day “when they got up in the morning, they went out into the Tecoa desert. And as they went out, Jehoshaphat, standing up, said: Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be safe; believe the prophets of him, and you will prosper. And having taken counsel with the people, he put some to sing and praise the Lord, dressed in sacred ornaments, while the armed people came out, and to say: Glorify the Lord, for his mercy is forever. And when they began to sing songs of praise, Jehovah set against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, the ambushes they themselves had made against Judah, and they killed one another.” [2 Chronicles 20:20-22].
That town obtained the victory, obtained peace everywhere. Jehovah showed them that he was the one who fought their battles. That people worshiped him with psalteries, harps and trumpets, to the house of Jehovah. They got the win, but they carried out an action. The first seek the face of God, recognize him, ask for his help. Then they listened to the instructions given to them and were obedient.
If you want to see the hand of God work in your life, look for him and obey him, then you will see his hand working in such an amazing way that you will be speechless.
Today God reminds you that you should not fear because He is with you. But he also asks that you do your part, your part is to believe, remain faithful and follow his instructions.
Translated and adapted from flashofyourglory.org