We studied Jehoshaphat's prayer and God's deliverance of Judah yesterday in Sunday School. The story is in 2 Chronicles 20. A large army comes to invade Judah. Jehoshaphat prays, reminding himself and God of God's promises. And God provides a miraculous deliverance.
This story matches the "faith and circumstances" theme of my blog. Jehoshaphat had the faith to believe in God's promises even in difficult circumstances. When my faith has been weak, I would have reacted to Jehoshaphat's circumstances by saying "Now I know God's promises can't be true, or this army would never have come to invade us." But Jehoshaphat still believed God, and called on Him to uphold His promises.
Let us remember to do likewise in our trying circumstances.
3 comments:
Jehoshaphat had confidence in God, but there's also an element of desperation. "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." If God didn't intervene, the people were sunk. Given no other hope, he took the only hope available.
An important message of this passage is this: The battle is the Lord's. Our response is not to be afraid or discouraged, but to trust. A response of faith to crushing problems can only happen by the grace of our Lord. May we see this as a reality and not just words.
Bill and BSquared: I saw your comments here last night, and then they disappeared. I don't know what happened. Thanks for commenting.
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