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Daily Devotion: 2 Chronicles 20:13-15

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2 Chronicles 20:13-15    "And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.  (14)  Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;  (15)  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."

Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Lord, we are not strong enough. There isn't enough of us to go against these strong nations. I don't know what to do, but I'm looking to you."  There is always a way of escape even when the burden becomes so heavy that we are not able to handle it. It would be much easier if we turned to the one way of escape immediately rather than waiting until we can see no way out. The way of escape is always through the Lord. He prayed. The people prayed. God heard. God is going to answer in a way that could not have been imagined. That's for another day. Today, we look at the manner in which the Lord made his answer known.

While they were gathered together, there stood a Levite in the crowd. We are told the Spirit of the LORD came into the midst of the people and specifically upon this young man. The people were praying. The king was praying. God was answering. His answer began in a very interesting way. "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's"  I say that is an interesting way to begin His answer because of the similarity between it and another answered prayer.

When the people of Israel were being brought out of Egypt. They came to the Red Sea. Pharaoh's army was coming behind them. Cliffs were on either side of them. The sea was in front of them. What were they to do? There seemed to be no way of escape until Moses spoke words of comfort to them. The words spoken were, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:13-14)  The people of Jehoshaphat's time were very learned in their nation's history. When they heard the words of the Lord through this young man, there surely was a great peace that came over them.  God parted the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh's army while delivering their forefathers. Surely God will be true to his Word given this day.

Those who would neglect history do themselves a great injustice. Even worse than that, those who neglect reading and studying the Word of God do themselves an even greater injustice. God always answers prayer in accordance with His Word. I have no doubt when they heard the same words that had been spoken hundreds of years before, the people felt a peace in their hearts and minds.  I can verify to you that I have heard those same words in my life at a time when the weight seemed too heavy for me. "Fear not. Stand still. See the salvation of the Lord, for the battle is not yours, but God's."

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