243. The Battle is God’s
2 Chronicles 20:15 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.
A great army from Moab and Ammon gathered to fight against Judah. King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord in prayer: he prayed: “We have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are on you.” This is a great example for us of a useful prayer in our time of trouble and distress and anxiety: “our eyes are on you.” The Lord heard his prayer and brought about a mighty, miraculous victory against all odds.
Jahaziel, the prophet, spoke for the Lord, “Fear not, the battle is God’s.” Because of this promise the Lord said that they did not need to be afraid or dismayed because “You are not fighting; God is fighting for you.” Because of this promise we do not need to be afraid or dismayed. God is for us, fighting on our side. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” What have we to fear? We are too weak, but it is not our battle. Jesus is strong, and it’s His battle. He has won the victory in the way (the way of the cross) that we could not have made up. He promises final victory at the End. In between those times, where we live, the battle is still God’s, not ours.
With a promise like this we can face tomorrow, and today, no matter that the Enemy is coming in like a flood. We don’t even have to be afraid of small irritations and minor troubles. It is still God’s fight and God’s salvation. “Be kind, for everyone you know is facing a struggle.” But God’s children are not in this thing alone: “He’s by our side upon the plain, with His good gifts and Spirit.” We have this promise so that we don’t have to face anything alone.