“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”” (2 Chronicles 20:17, ESV)
There came a time in ancient Israel, when three nations were determined to wipe out the people of God. King Jehoshaphat learned that the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites were gathering for war (2 Chronicles 20:1). Their soldiers were already on the march. What would the King of Israel do?
Scripture from 2 Chronicles tells us that the first thing Jehoshaphat did was to declare a fast. Then, he led the people in prayer to Almighty God. With three armies staring them down, the people of Israel were filled with fear and trembling. When the time for prayer and fasting were nearing their end, a prophet named Jahaziel stood to speak. He told the people gathered what is recorded in the scripture above. The people of Israel were to “take their positions” for war, but they would “not have to fight” (2 Chronicles 20:17). They were told to “not be afraid”. God would take the fight Himself to the three warring nations. As the soldiers of Israel gathered to fight in and around the Valley of Beracah, they were astonished. The three armies had fought among themselves. Those who survived left. There were no armies to fight. Israel was saved!
To show His power, God will at times take the fight directly to the enemies of His people. God will cause events to happen that will confound their evil plans. As they fight among themselves and self-destruct, they will have no idea that God was behind it all. All the faithful need to do is stand fast in the faith (i.e., “take their positions”, 2 Chronicles 20:17!).
Don’t ever think that God isn’t ready to fight for you. When you are doing the Lord’s work, Heaven is behind you. Angels are watching over you. God’s Spirit will be guiding you. The hand of the Lord will be at work!
“Nearly 1,000 missionary personnel under the China Inland Mission were trapped in China when the Communists took over in the 1940s. CIM ordered a total evacuation in January, 1951, but was it too late? Communists are not averse to killing.
Arthur and Wilda Mathews applied for exit visas on January 3. Their living conditions had deteriorated to a bare kitchen where, in the corner, Wilda had converted a footlocker into a prayer nook. Days passed with no action on their requests. Meanwhile citizens were executed every day, and from her kitchen Wilda could hear the shots. The strain grew unbearable. “The imagination is what jumps around into all sorts of places it ought to keep out of,” Arthur wrote to his parents.
He was told at last that his wife and child could leave if he would secretly work for the Communists. Arthur refused. Day after day he was summoned and grilled. Day after day he said good-bye to Wilda, wondering if he would ever see her again. Finally Arthur bluntly told the authorities, “I am not a Judas. If you expect me or anyone else in the China Inland Mission to do that kind of thing, you had better not try because we cannot do it.”
Wilda was utterly overcome by fear and doubt. Sunday, March 21, 1951 was, as she called it later, Black Easter. Wilda sneaked into an Easter church service, but when she opened her mouth to sing “He Lives!” no words came out. Returning home, she fell at the trunk and her trembling fingers found 2 Chronicles 20.17: You won’t even have to fight. Just take your position and watch the LORD rescue you from your enemy. Don’t be afraid.… Wilda clamped onto that verse, and two weeks later she wrote, “The conflict has been terrible, but peace and quiet reign now.”
It was two years before she exited the country, and even longer for Arthur who became the last CIM missionary to leave China. But miraculously, all of them got out without a single one being martyred. It was the greatest exodus in missionary history.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day)
Like the missionaries of China in the events above, Jehoshaphat did numerous things right in this righteous battle with the three foreign invading armies. Jehoshaphat fasted for God, prayed for salvation, and led the people in worship. The people of Israel followed suit by fasting, prayer, worship, and then standing firm in their positions; all at the direction of God. When you fight your worldly or spiritual battles, don’t underestimate the power of fasting, prayer, worship, and standing firm where the Lord wants you to be. AND, don’t be surprised in these situations if the Lord does battle FOR YOU!
Scripture from 2 Chronicles tells us that the first thing Jehoshaphat did was to declare a fast. Then, he led the people in prayer to Almighty God. With three armies staring them down, the people of Israel were filled with fear and trembling. When the time for prayer and fasting were nearing their end, a prophet named Jahaziel stood to speak. He told the people gathered what is recorded in the scripture above. The people of Israel were to “take their positions” for war, but they would “not have to fight” (2 Chronicles 20:17). They were told to “not be afraid”. God would take the fight Himself to the three warring nations. As the soldiers of Israel gathered to fight in and around the Valley of Beracah, they were astonished. The three armies had fought among themselves. Those who survived left. There were no armies to fight. Israel was saved!
To show His power, God will at times take the fight directly to the enemies of His people. God will cause events to happen that will confound their evil plans. As they fight among themselves and self-destruct, they will have no idea that God was behind it all. All the faithful need to do is stand fast in the faith (i.e., “take their positions”, 2 Chronicles 20:17!).
Don’t ever think that God isn’t ready to fight for you. When you are doing the Lord’s work, Heaven is behind you. Angels are watching over you. God’s Spirit will be guiding you. The hand of the Lord will be at work!
“Nearly 1,000 missionary personnel under the China Inland Mission were trapped in China when the Communists took over in the 1940s. CIM ordered a total evacuation in January, 1951, but was it too late? Communists are not averse to killing.
Arthur and Wilda Mathews applied for exit visas on January 3. Their living conditions had deteriorated to a bare kitchen where, in the corner, Wilda had converted a footlocker into a prayer nook. Days passed with no action on their requests. Meanwhile citizens were executed every day, and from her kitchen Wilda could hear the shots. The strain grew unbearable. “The imagination is what jumps around into all sorts of places it ought to keep out of,” Arthur wrote to his parents.
He was told at last that his wife and child could leave if he would secretly work for the Communists. Arthur refused. Day after day he was summoned and grilled. Day after day he said good-bye to Wilda, wondering if he would ever see her again. Finally Arthur bluntly told the authorities, “I am not a Judas. If you expect me or anyone else in the China Inland Mission to do that kind of thing, you had better not try because we cannot do it.”
Wilda was utterly overcome by fear and doubt. Sunday, March 21, 1951 was, as she called it later, Black Easter. Wilda sneaked into an Easter church service, but when she opened her mouth to sing “He Lives!” no words came out. Returning home, she fell at the trunk and her trembling fingers found 2 Chronicles 20.17: You won’t even have to fight. Just take your position and watch the LORD rescue you from your enemy. Don’t be afraid.… Wilda clamped onto that verse, and two weeks later she wrote, “The conflict has been terrible, but peace and quiet reign now.”
It was two years before she exited the country, and even longer for Arthur who became the last CIM missionary to leave China. But miraculously, all of them got out without a single one being martyred. It was the greatest exodus in missionary history.” (Robert J. Morgan, On This Day)
Like the missionaries of China in the events above, Jehoshaphat did numerous things right in this righteous battle with the three foreign invading armies. Jehoshaphat fasted for God, prayed for salvation, and led the people in worship. The people of Israel followed suit by fasting, prayer, worship, and then standing firm in their positions; all at the direction of God. When you fight your worldly or spiritual battles, don’t underestimate the power of fasting, prayer, worship, and standing firm where the Lord wants you to be. AND, don’t be surprised in these situations if the Lord does battle FOR YOU!
For more inspiration, check out the "Uplifting Video for the Day" - "God Will Make a Way" by Dan Moen... just click below!