The story of Jehoshaphat continues…

2 Chronicles 20:10-12 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? 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.” 

Jehoshaphat asked God to help him as he was about to be attacked. He recognized his own helplessness, and asked the One who was able to help him. That sounds pretty obvious. But think about it – when you come up against a difficult situation, what’s the first thought that goes through your head? If you’re like me, it’s usually “what am I going to do?” That’s a self-reliant thought. A God-dependent thought would be “Hey God, what do you want to do?” You know that you are depending on God when that thought comes first. “God, what do you want to do?”  Jehoshaphat didn’t say: “Oh, no, I’m the king! It’s all up to me! What am I going to do?” The first thing he did was say, “Let’s ask God.” And when you ask God, be ready for an answer.

2 Chronicles 20:13-17 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

Depending on God means that you listen for His guidance. You recognize His power, you ask for His help and then you wait until He answers you. This is where it gets hard – waiting for an answer from God. The tendency is to say, “Ok, I’ve asked God to help, now I’m going to get out there and fight” which usually means, “I’ll pray and then I’ll go ahead and do what I had planned. I’ll listen, but only for the answer that I want to hear.” Sometimes God may actually tell you what you want to hear. But His answer may be something far different from what you expect. God’s guidance may be “you will not need to fight. Just wait.” It is waiting for the Lord.

The people of the Old Testament understood about waiting. God had promised a Savior. Those who believed that promise waited in faith until God fulfilled it by sending His Son. He was in control. You have to believe God is in control and then let Him be in control. Don’t try to snatch the reins away from him. Things don’t work well that way. Sometimes God’s guidance comes in ways you don’t expect. But the point is that depending on God means that you wait for His guidance before you act. God told Jehoshaphat, “Don’t worry. It’s not your battle. It belongs to Me and I will take care of it. All you have to do is show up. I’ll take care of the rest.”

But wait, there’s more. I’ll share that tomorrow.