II Chronicles 20: The God Who Turns Things Around

Again and again, scripture reveals the Lord to be a God Who turns things around.

The Hebrews are enslaved by the Egyptians?  God turns that around through ten plagues and a passover.

The Israelite forces are challenged by a giant named Goliath?  God turns that around through the sling and stones of a shepherd boy.

The Messiah is killed by His enemies?  God turns that around through the glory of the Resurrection.

Christ's disciples are left cowering in an upper room in Jerusalem?  God turns that around through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Church is persecuted by the religious and political authorities?  God turns that around through the dynamic preaching and writing of the early apostles.

Here, in II Chronicles 20, the nation of Judah is threatened by her old enemies: the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites.  The marauding armies are on their way, and destruction is on their hearts.  The foes of the people of God have assembled a great multitude and are planning to storm Jerusalem to seize its plunder.  Things look bleak.

In response, King Jehoshaphat gathers the people for a fast and prayer.  "Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (vs. 3).  The people were responsive, perhaps because Jehoshaphat had done such a good job of teaching and judging the people in his administration up to this point.  "Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord" (vs. 4).

Jehoshaphat then offers a moving, heartfelt prayer, beseeching the Lord to come and deliver His people from their enemies.  A prophet, Jahaziel, was given a word of reassurance from God.  "He said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: "Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's"'" (vs. 15).

The king, then, urges his people to put their faith in the Lord.  "Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem!  Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets'" (vs. 20).  The role of belief in God is very important in what happened next.

When the people of Judah arrive at their watchtower to assess the situation, they discover that their enemies have already been dealt with.  All they find are corpses.  The Ammonites and Moabites turned on the Edomites, then devoured each other until there was no one left!  God had fought this battle for His people; all that remained was the stripping of the booty from the dead armies.

There is no lack of avenues for God to deliver His people.  There is no shortage of ways for God to be able to meet your needs, no matter how impossible your circumstances may seem.  We have a God Who turns things around!