The people of Judah had just received a declaration of war. A powerful enemy coalition was preparing to attack them. Faced with this imminent threat, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, despite his fear, made a wise and spiritual decision: he turned to God. He invited all the people to do the same, through fasting and prayer.
In our own Christian life, we are sometimes confronted with critical situations, with battles that are beyond us, and that can only be overcome in the presence of God, through fasting and prayer.
In this time of trial, Jehoshaphat offered God a remarkable prayer, full of faith and humility, which we find in 2 Chronicles 20.6-12. In it he recalls who God is: the sovereign Master of the heavens, the One who rules over all the nations, the One who delivered Israel in the past and who alone can still save today…
The King also adds this further word: 2 Chronicles 20.12 “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us, and we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” What a powerful confession! Jehoshaphat acknowledges his helplessness, but chooses to fix his eyes on God. And God, who is faithful, is quick to answer.
Through Jahaziel, a Levite, reassures Jehoshaphat and his people: they will not have to fight themselves, for God will fight for them.
This teaches us a profound spiritual truth: some battles cannot be won by our own strength or by our own intelligence. There are fights that only God can fight and win for us. Our role is then to have faith in Him, to stand firm, and to trust Him.
On a far greater scale, this reality was manifested in the ultimate battle against sin. Faced with the power of sin, humanity is without strength. No human effort, no good work could set us free. But God, in His love, sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to defeat sin in our place: 5.6 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” On the cross, Jesus won the decisive victory. Through His redemptive work, we have access to forgiveness, to grace, and to spiritual freedom.
Even today, in our personal trials, it happens that we are helpless, not knowing what to do. In those moments, God invites us to be still, to keep our eyes fixed on Him, and to trust Him. He tells us, as He told Jehoshaphat:
2 Chronicles 20.20 “Trust in your God, and you will be established.” That is what Jehoshaphat did. He chose to believe God and to obey His instructions. The people sang and praised God even before the victory was visible. And God intervened with power, scattering the enemies of Judah without the people having to fight
So you too, my brother, my sister, whatever battle you are going through today, remember: can fight for you. So fix your eyes on Him. Do not let worry rule your heart, but rely on His faithfulness: Isaiah 26.4 “Trust in forever, for , is the everlasting rock.”
Pastor Joël PRUDENT