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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
This has most certainly been a historic week for America and our world, would you agree? God’s Word tells us that God is always watching, alert to all that is happening on earth, and even in the hearts of all human beings that He has created. (Ps. 33:13-15; Ps. 14:1,2) Do you wonder what God’s opinion is of all He has seen this week? What do you suppose God is planning to DO in our world now, for His glory and the accomplishment of His purposes in our generation? Could it be… this is a critical moment in history, for America and millions of people in the world? Years from now, when we look back to this first week in November, 2020, what might we see will have resulted from the events and the decisions made in these days?
There are many similar defining moments in history, and I invite you to join me in one of them found in 2 Chronicles 20, in the Bible, as we continue seeking to learn wisdom for our time, from what God has done in the past. The events in this chapter have had direct impact on me and my family more than 2800 years later. How you might ask? My wife, daughter and I served as missionaries in a place named ‘the valley of Beracah’, and our lives were profoundly affected by those years. I’m confident that time contributed significantly to preparing our daughter to be a third generation missionary in Africa today, along with her husband and five daughters. So join me in 2 Chronicles 20 today and let’s see what God may show us about the strategicness of this first week in November, 2020.
King Jehoshaphat and the people living in Jerusalem and the surrounding area were enjoying the peace and prosperity that God was pouring out upon them in response to the nationwide teaching of God’s Word which we saw yesterday in chapter 19. Suddenly word came that a great army was advancing toward Jerusalem. Peace gave way to paralyzing fear and everyone looked to the leadership to see what they would do. Their enjoyment of peacetime had not prepared them for war.
Look closely at king Jehoshaphat’s strategy, it’s highly unconventional and causes me to ask you, wherever you live in the world, how have you seen leadership respond when an unexpected tragedy or adversary has advanced upon them? How did they respond to the Coronavirus COVID pandemic where you live? What about the businesses or schools or elderly care facilities or even the churches, how did they all respond? What have you learned about leadership as you’ve watched COVID batter our world for nearly one year?
King Jehoshaphat had learned something very significant from his father king Asa… when in a vulnerable situation, seek God’s help! 2 Chronicles 14 has the remarkable account of God’s miraculous deliverance of Asa and the people from an invading army, and I have no doubt Asa had told his son that story multiple times. Do you have great stories your parents have told you of how God worked miracles in their lifetime or even further back in your ancestral heritage? What lessons have you learned from those great God stories, and how have they shaped your relationship with God and your response to crisis?
Look at king Jehoshaphat’s wise leadership action plan: “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek God. Then king Jehoshaphat stood before the people and prayed…O LORD, God of our fathers…” (2 Chron. 20:3) The prayer he prayed is remarkable and I urge you to read it carefully. I wonder what you see in this amazing example of God honoring leadership? Have you ever seen anything like it in your lifetime? Notice please, a huge throng of the people stood with the king, as families…adults and kids together, calling upon God. This historic moment would be told and retold for generations to come. Do you remember how Psalm 145:5 and Psalm 78:1-8 and even Psalm 71:17,18 all call us to make sure one generation recounts the greatness of God to succeeding generations?
God had promised king Solomon, many years before in that famous 2 Chronicles 7:14 that in moments like this He would hear from heaven and respond, if His people would call to Him, and He did! My friends, you will be amazed as you read the rest of 2 Chronicles 20 to see first what God said to the people through His prophet, and then what God did in fulfillment of His promise to protect His people. Please take special note of God’s message in vs. 17 “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you…do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.”
Now pause for a moment friends. Does that sound familiar? Consider Exodus 14 when Moses and the fleeing 1 million Hebrew slaves found themselves running toward the Red Sea as they fled, but behind them, rapidly gaining ground on them, was Pharaoh’s huge army! “Moses said to the people ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you, you need only be still.” (Ex. 14:13) Do you remember the amazing miracle God did to lead His people through the Red Sea on dry ground, and then close those walls of water over on top of Pharaoh’s army?
I’m confident Jehoshaphat and the people knew that story well, and many others like it, so when this word from God came to them, do you notice their response: “Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.” Honestly now my friends… is this a fair description of your confidence in God, your response to Him, when you face a fearful situation? We need to learn to live like this my friends, for it is in this type of deep trust in our great Savior Jesus, and our great heavenly Father, Almighty God, and the powerful Holy Spirit of God who is with us… that we can face what is terrifying to other people, but to us is an opportunity to trust our great God!
Now please carefully read the verses which follow in 2 Chronicles 20. Just like Joshua and the people who marched around Jericho (Joshua 6) do you see Jehoshaphat made sure they worshiped and praised God as they approached the battlefield? In response, God turned the enemy upon itself in great confusion, similar to what He did at Ebenezer in 1 Samuel 7. “When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, all they saw was dead bodies…” (2 Chron. 20:24)
Please note, in addition to PROTECTING His people from this crisis invasion, God also PROVIDED for His people with such bounty it required several days to gather it all up! As a result that place was called the “Valley of Beracah”, which means the valley of BLESSING and PRAISE.
And two more things: the people returned to Jerusalem and again praised God with great Thanksgiving for all He had done. Then God poured out even more blessing of peace, for it says “The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest (peace) on every side.” (2 Chron. 20:29,30)
Now friends, as our world wrestles with what they have seen this week in America, and as we anticipate what American leadership will be like in January 2021 and beyond… may I ask you three questions:
1. Regardless of your personal opinion of who the American leadership will be in 2021, is your heart determined to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and lead any and all who you influence in the way that Jehoshaphat led?
2. Are you passionate to fully trust God with all things that next year and beyond may bring to you and the people where you live?
3. When the next unexpected crisis is approaching, causing fear all around, will you step forward to seek God’s help as Jehoshaphat did?
Now in closing, I have a brief video clip for you to consider which fits so closely with this moment in history. It’s time to pray… here’s the video link that will help you, please join me:
Click to read today’s chapter: 2 Chronicles 20. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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