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."