2 Chronicles 20:1-3 "It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. (2) Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. (3) And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
Throughout my life, I have listened to people who talk tough. Sometimes the
tough talk comes when times are good and an imagined enemy is looming.
Sometimes, the tough talk comes after a struggle has taken place. Sometimes the
tough talk comes in conversation with someone else who is going through a rough
time. Usually the talk comes in a manner as to say what that individual would
have done if they had been in that same situation. When the enemy is larger
than life and looming in the shadows around you, tough talk goes out the
window.
Jehoshaphat had been in battles before. He had been called to help his kinsmen
in Israel and had gone with them to face their enemy. He had used wisdom in
teaching his people how to face struggles, both physical, emotional, and
spiritual. Now, he is facing a battle that is much larger than he has ever
faced before. Many nations have now come up against Jerusalem, the city where
Jehoshaphat lives. They are completely surrounded with nowhere to turn. What
are they to do? Some may have said, "Let's go get them. We have
faced other battles before. We have beaten our enemies before. What are we
waiting for?" Some may have been eager to just surrender to the
enemy and hopefully save their lives. What is the king to do?
We are told that Jehoshaphat was afraid. There is nothing wrong with being
afraid, as long as that fear does not cause us to do something irrational.
Jehoshaphat did that which was the most honorable and noble thing to do. He did
not put on a mask before the people. He admitted his fear. But in admitting
that fear, he also directed himself and the people in the right direction to
turn. Had Jehoshaphat been taught the very wonderful truth that had been in
God's answer to Solomon's prayer? It surely seemed so. "If my people
which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear their prayer and heal
their land."
What did Jehoshaphat do? He humbled himself before God and all the
people. He positioned himself before all the people in that mindset of humility
to seek the Lord's help. He prayed and proclaimed a fast before all the nation.
He turned from himself unto the Lord. Yes, he was afraid, but he used
that fear to draw closer to the Lord God Almighty. Do not let fear be the
driving force in your life. But do not think you are strong enough to overcome
enemies on your own. Use the fear to turn to God. No matter what size the enemy
that you face, our God is bigger!