"Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." II Chronicles 20:2-3
The story here has a familiar beginning. The nation of Israel (Judah) is being attacked by a group of their enemies. The difference comes in the remaining chapter. What God is about to do is something He is willing and able to do in any battle for anyone. King Jehoshaphat, a godly king who has a heart that wants to seek God. There were kings before him who ruled their own way without the help and guidance of God, but he was a righteous man and a great king because of it. King Jehoshaphat went before the people to pray and to seek God (wouldn't it be nice to have a leader like that for our nation?). They were hopeless and facing a battle that it looked like only God could win.
God heard their prayers and sent a man of God named Jahaziel (20:14). He stood up and spoke on behalf of God and 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. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you." (20:15-17)
Here we have the people asking God for help and God showing up. But again the story gets even more unique and gets better from here. What is about to happen can only be done by God, and if we as Christians would get this, we would unlock a door that I believe God would keep open - His unlimited blessing.
"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." (20:20-21) I cannot believe this!!! They are celebrating and praising God for the victory BEFORE THE VICTORY IS WON!!! This act of faith and trust is truly incredible! What happens with every great act of faith? A great ACTION by God!
"And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." (20:22)
"For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped." (20:23-24) What happens when we give our battles to God to fight? He wins and we don't even have to get our weapons out. This is incredible! But it gets better.
"And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much." When we trust God to fight our battles, he blesses more than we could imagine. The more we trust God, the more he blesses.
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