Key Verse: “And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper” (2 Chronicles 13:12).
There once lived a man who protested each time he was extended a God-be-with-you compliment. He reasoned that if God were to be with someone the person will lose his freedom to do as he pleased. True, God’s presence in our life should put some restraint in our lives. What the protesting man did not consider is that God with us makes us unconquerable for, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Abijah, king of Judah, armed himself with this consciousness when he went out against the army of Israel under Jeroboam with an army of four hundred thousand soldiers as against Israel’s eight hundred thousand soldiers. He was not altogether balanced in his assertions about Jeroboam’s coming to power in Israel, he nonetheless capitalized on the backsliding and idolatry of Jeroboam and Israel in his address. He talked proudly about Judah’s pure worship and faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. This way, he identified with the Almighty God and emphatically appealed to his opponents thus: “O children of Israel fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers, for ye shall not prosper” (2 Chronicles 13:12).
The outcome of the war was a clear victory for Abijah despite Jeroboams superior army and tactics. The presence of God with us should afford us comfort, courage, rest as well as terrify our enemies. If we have made Jehovah the Captain of our host, there is no need to live in fear. With Him on our side, we can pass through waters and fire and come out unscathed; surmount the most difficult challenge and fight every battle with confidence.
As you step out today into a world full of uncertainties, have you made the Lord your own Captain? Are you at peace with God? If not, why not humbly go to Him in penitent prayer and by faith accept His provision of salvation and restoration through Jesus Christ, His Son?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God-with-us is enough guarantee for our victory in every battle.
There once lived a man who protested each time he was extended a God-be-with-you compliment. He reasoned that if God were to be with someone the person will lose his freedom to do as he pleased. True, God’s presence in our life should put some restraint in our lives. What the protesting man did not consider is that God with us makes us unconquerable for, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Abijah, king of Judah, armed himself with this consciousness when he went out against the army of Israel under Jeroboam with an army of four hundred thousand soldiers as against Israel’s eight hundred thousand soldiers. He was not altogether balanced in his assertions about Jeroboam’s coming to power in Israel, he nonetheless capitalized on the backsliding and idolatry of Jeroboam and Israel in his address. He talked proudly about Judah’s pure worship and faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. This way, he identified with the Almighty God and emphatically appealed to his opponents thus: “O children of Israel fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers, for ye shall not prosper” (2 Chronicles 13:12).
The outcome of the war was a clear victory for Abijah despite Jeroboams superior army and tactics. The presence of God with us should afford us comfort, courage, rest as well as terrify our enemies. If we have made Jehovah the Captain of our host, there is no need to live in fear. With Him on our side, we can pass through waters and fire and come out unscathed; surmount the most difficult challenge and fight every battle with confidence.
As you step out today into a world full of uncertainties, have you made the Lord your own Captain? Are you at peace with God? If not, why not humbly go to Him in penitent prayer and by faith accept His provision of salvation and restoration through Jesus Christ, His Son?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God-with-us is enough guarantee for our victory in every battle.
No comments:
Post a Comment