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.”
II Chronicles 20:15
The third assault against the people of Jerusalem was to get them to look at the circumstances – the way things appeared. The Assyrian commander threatened the people, do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? (Isaiah 36:18) The people were reminded that the Assyrians had already defeated and taken most of the cities in Judah. It certainly appeared that the Assyrians had the upper hand and that Jerusalem was a “sitting duck” waiting to be captured! Yet Hezekiah was faithful, and the people were silent in the face of the accusations.
Things are not always as they appear. The enemy distorts our perception of things so that we will feel defeated. The Assyrians used fear to intimidate the Israelites, pointing out their past successes in defeating other nations. The enemy uses the same tactics today. He uses intimidation and fear to discourage the people of God. King Jehoshaphat kept His eyes on God and not on the enemy, reminding the people that the battle belonged to the Lord.
What about you? What battles are you facing? Has the enemy discouraged you by the way things appear? Remember that God is fighting the battle, and though it may look like defeat, God will prevail.
Heavenly Father,
When I look at my circumstances, I feel defeated. Help me to get my eyes on You so that I can see that the battle is not mine but Yours.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
