Some of you may be familiar with this story, in the book of 2 Chronicles, of an impending, one-sided battle. Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel, had been alerted by his spies, that a vast army was approaching. The terrified monarch, and everyone else, was savvy enough to know that they were out numbered, and defeat was imminent. Wisely, the king gathered all the people, humbled himself before the Lord, and asked for His guidance as he prayed like he’d never prayed before. “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!….We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ At the end of his impassioned plea, as they stood waiting for God, the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15.
As the story continues, the people kept praying, fasting, worshiping and trusting God, in spite of overwhelming odds. As they approached the battle field, singing “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever“, God set ambushes for the enemy. As it turned out, their foes wound up attacking and killing each other, proving that the battle did indeed belong to God. The Spirit of prophecy had come upon a Levite in the midst of the congregation. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where and on whom He chooses. He encouraged them to trust in God. We, as Christian soldiers have been equipped to go out against our spiritual enemies, and the God of peace will make us more than conquerors. “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37. Rest assured, we will all face battles where we are the underdog, but our trials will prove our gain, if we remember that God‘s effort, not
ours will secure the victory
. The advantage will be all our own, but the whole glory must always be given to God.
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