Who's Battle Is It?

I suppose you could call it one of the strangest battles of all times. It is recorded in the Bible in 2 Chronicles 20. I'm sure that the present day news media would have a heyday with this one. It started when troops came to fight a king called Jehoshaphat. What does a nation do when the enemy strikes? They rally together and also pray that the enemy would suffer a huge loss. What about equipment and battle fatigue? How should they strike? Should they do the "Hail Mary" which was used in the final stages of Desert Storm?

Jehoshaphat indeed prayed that they would be able to survive. And God sent a message to Jahaziel saying, "Fear not, and be not dismayed with the mighty army that is there; for the battle is not yours but God's. You will not need to fight but take up your position, stand still, and see the victory! Tomorrow go out against them, and don't be discouraged."

So the army rose early in the morning and went out to the enemy. They did not move quietly but sang and praised God. As they did this, something was happening in the enemy camp. When Jehoshaphat and his troops came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked and saw dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.

So what happened? The Lord had set an ambush against the enemy so that they all helped to destroy one another. What an usual battle! I'm sure that their were some Israelites that wondered why they had to dress like they were going to fight a battle, go to battle singing of all things and then look at the battlefield and, wow, the enemy lay dead in front of them. That is a "Hail Mary!" Or should we say, "The battle really belongs to the Lord!"

In our lives, we also have battles with big giants to face. We could be fighting lack of self-confidence, sexual abuse or sexual promiscuity, drinking or drugs. You may be fighting them alone, or in the "closet" so to speak. I recall a friend who struggled with homosexuality. He was finally caught in a mall and his name was put in the papers. It was then that he decided to take this giant that he was fighting alone and ask others to rally together, just like Jehoshaphat did. There may be much suffering in our lives, but if we ask God to deliver us from the giants that envelop us, He will. John 7:37, 38 says it well. "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me... out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water."

Do you catch the hope that is shown here? The battle really belongs to the Lord. We might have to dress and stand in battle formation but He gives us hope that everything will "work together for good to those that... are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). The battle belongs to the Lord, and we can sing, "Glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord!"

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Contributed by George Prins, email: mailto:gprins@freenet.npiec.on.ca