Eyes on God, Not the Battle
“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” —2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV)
In the passage above, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, had been told that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites were coming to attack. Judah was outnumbered, and Scripture says that Jehoshaphat did not know what to do. What we learn is that he didn’t try to figure everything out on his own. He didn’t seek support from other nations. Scripture says he immediately sought the Lord.
Jehoshaphat knew all odds were against him. He knew his army stood no chance against those coming to attack. In the same way, we face situations and troubles that we cannot overcome in our own strength. In those moments, we must remember whose we are and seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat had all of Judah looking to him for answers. Scripture says he was afraid, yet instead of offering the people his own ideas, he called for a fast and led all of Judah to seek the Lord.
When Jehoshaphat prayed, he didn’t focus on the problem—he focused on God and on God’s promises:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’
And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
—2 Chronicles 20:6–12 (ESV)
We can learn so much from Jehoshaphat’s prayer and how we should approach God in difficult times. His prayer first brought reverence to God, then reminded himself and the people of God’s power—what He had done for them and what He had promised. Only after acknowledging God’s greatness did he present the problem and declare their dependence on Him.
Many times we become so focused on our problems that we elevate them above God—even in our prayers. But the more we elevate God—His promises, His faithfulness, His power—the smaller our problems become because we remember how big our God truly is.
God answered the king and gave Judah victory, and He will do the same for us when we turn to Him.
Father,
Thank You for reminding us that our prayers should be focused on You and not on our problems. The challenges we face are opportunities to grow in You and to show others Your mighty hand at work so that they may be drawn to know You. We give You glory and praise. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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