Bible Reading: 2 Chro. 13; Col.4:1-10.
“And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord , and the priests sounded with the trumpets” – 2 Chronicles 13:14 (KJV)
In 2 Chronicles 13, the bible tells us about how the army of Israel led by the rebel leader then, Jeroboam, ambushed the godly Judah and would have thought that the battle had been won. 2 Chronicles 13:14 (KJV) says: “And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord , and the priests sounded with the trumpets.” What they did not factor into the equation is the intervention of God. 2 Chr.13:14 says the children of Judah cried unto the LORD and their priests blew the trumpets. Then the unthinkable happened; God smote the rebel leader and his army before Abijah and the army of Judah.
There are a few lessons to be learnt from this: Firstly, do not accept defeat of the enemy no matter how much advantage they seem to have. Just ensure you pray to God and praise him as much as you can. Recognise the battle is not yours but that of God Almighty. Our God is always ready to answer our call. Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV): “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” As He answered the call of Judah in 2 Chr.13, He will answer you speedily. It does not matter the nature or might of the enemy; be it sickness, lack, barrenness, financial storm, career challenge, business failure, satanic oppression among others.
The second lesson is that the army of Judah were diligent. They pursued their enemy and slew them in hundreds of thousands.( 2 Chro. 13:17). You need to be diligent in what you are doing as God will not do for you, what you are supposed to do yourself. Thirdly, do not wait till the day of trouble before praying to God. Abijah stated in 2 Chro 13:10-11 how Judah did not forsake God but prayed to him morning and evening. So it’s important to maintain a good relationship with God on a continuos basis as it becomes easy to draw on that relationship in times of difficulties.
Fourthly, it does not matter the capacity of your adversary. Israel had two times the army of Judah (2 Chron. 13:3) but God made them to lose the battle to Judah. Fifthly, if God fights for you, your enemy will be brought under your feet. (2 Chro.13:18-20). So let’s learn to cry unto God in all situation no matter how hopeless it seems. No wonder the bible says in Philippians 4:6 (KJV): “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Action Point: Cry unto God on the issues confronting you and your household and ask him to intervene speedily.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero