You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. – 2 Chronicles 20:6
You know it’s coming—the National Hurricane Center warned that it is 30 hours away, but it will be a direct hit. Even with the best preparations, the news is devastating. Bad news is always disturbing, regardless of its nature: a terminal disease, a custody battle in the midst of a divorce, a financial investment gone bad. Whatever the nature of your devastating news, whoever the source, regardless of the message, there is an answer for you.
King Jehoshaphat was in fear. Three powerful nations had their armies marching against him. What was he to do? Early in his life, he made the commitment to follow wherever God led him. When he was told that the enemies’ armies surrounded him, he cried out to God. “We’re powerless,” he said. But he put his focus on God and not on the problem. God told the king to face it head-on. Jehoshaphat did, relying on God’s promise, having faith that God will always keep His Word. God responded to him and the people during their crisis, and they stood and praised the Lord.
You can spend countless hours worrying about your devastating news, or you can take it to the Lord and, as the song says, “leave it there.” Avoid the tendency to pick it back up. Keep your faith strong. Stay in His Word. Be diligent in your prayers. God is at work, and in Him the victory is at hand.
In a nation that is desperately divided and when election results seem to divide it even more, keep your focus where it belongs. Pray for the individuals seeking office to admit their need for the Savior and Lord, resisting their own pride, and looking to God for His will to be done.
Today’s Verse: 2 Chronicles 20:6
and said, “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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Chronicles 20:5-17
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “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. 7 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? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘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.’ 10 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 – 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 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.”
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
