If yesterday was a pattern for rebuking fellow believers, today’s chapter is a pattern for facing overwhelming adversaries.
1. Recognize your helplessness in your own strength.
Jehoshaphat rightly assessed that the armies of Israel were no match for these three united armies. No brilliant military strategy would be sufficient to overcome the odds. When we face an enemy that dwarfs us in every measure, our only hope is to call on God.
2. Gather brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with you.
Jehoshaphat brought the people of Israel together and prayed, reminding them of God’s faithfulness in the past, the unjustness of this attack, and the sovereignty of God. He admitted to God their utter dependence on Him and humbly sought God’s help.
3. Obey God’s direction.
When God commanded Jehoshaphat to lead his army to march against their enemies, the king could have let fear keep them hunkered down in the city. But he followed God directions, he heard and obeyed God’s command to not be afraid or discouraged, and he led his troops out. God might have used these troops to defeat the enemy as he had in other circumstances, but this time God chose to defeat the enemy without the army of Judah ever lifting a weapon. By the time they arrived, the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir lie scattered in the valley, not a single soldier survived.
Make no mistake: Whether our adversary is cancer, financial failure, our own temptations to sin, a wicked person intent on our destruction, or an army, God is able to bring us victory in any circumstance.
4. Praise God.
Jehoshaphat was quick to give the glory for the victory to God. We can easily find ourselves rationalizing away God’s powerful victories - giving credit to our own courage or strength, to the wisdom of man, or to weaknesses of the enemy. We must remember and give praise to the God who saves us not only spiritually, but physically. God may use doctors, medicine, other people in your life, or even work through us to overcome sin or circumstances, but the victory is always His.
We can all stand to be encouraged by stories of God’s faithfulness, so I’d love to hear your story! In what overwhelming circumstance of your life have you seen God provide the victory?
1. Recognize your helplessness in your own strength.
Jehoshaphat rightly assessed that the armies of Israel were no match for these three united armies. No brilliant military strategy would be sufficient to overcome the odds. When we face an enemy that dwarfs us in every measure, our only hope is to call on God.
2. Gather brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with you.
Jehoshaphat brought the people of Israel together and prayed, reminding them of God’s faithfulness in the past, the unjustness of this attack, and the sovereignty of God. He admitted to God their utter dependence on Him and humbly sought God’s help.
3. Obey God’s direction.
When God commanded Jehoshaphat to lead his army to march against their enemies, the king could have let fear keep them hunkered down in the city. But he followed God directions, he heard and obeyed God’s command to not be afraid or discouraged, and he led his troops out. God might have used these troops to defeat the enemy as he had in other circumstances, but this time God chose to defeat the enemy without the army of Judah ever lifting a weapon. By the time they arrived, the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir lie scattered in the valley, not a single soldier survived.
Make no mistake: Whether our adversary is cancer, financial failure, our own temptations to sin, a wicked person intent on our destruction, or an army, God is able to bring us victory in any circumstance.
4. Praise God.
Jehoshaphat was quick to give the glory for the victory to God. We can easily find ourselves rationalizing away God’s powerful victories - giving credit to our own courage or strength, to the wisdom of man, or to weaknesses of the enemy. We must remember and give praise to the God who saves us not only spiritually, but physically. God may use doctors, medicine, other people in your life, or even work through us to overcome sin or circumstances, but the victory is always His.
We can all stand to be encouraged by stories of God’s faithfulness, so I’d love to hear your story! In what overwhelming circumstance of your life have you seen God provide the victory?
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