Ever have those moments where it seems as though everything collides? I always laughed at the Five-Year-Plan and the Ten-Year-Plan questions asked at interviews. I understood it, but I laughed at it. We plan, we execute the steps in the plan, and then stuff just happens. There goes the Five-Year, let’s see if we can salvage the Ten-Year! We make so many plans and then we get rerouted. Anybody?
My hubby and I have financial talks every now and then – kind of like a financial meeting where we discuss where we are and what plans we need to make for us to reach certain goals. It’s something I highly recommend for all married couples. Well, we had one of these at the beginning of the year (can you believe that was more than 3 months ago already?) and made an action plan based on some things coming up this summer. We walked away from that plan with a renewed sense of purpose and a bit of peace in the direction we were headed. Then the stuff happened.
Without going into detail, what was once a very doable plan became a plan that only God can do. I went through some emotions of are you kidding me? and what the heck? and why, God, why? until I finally came to a peaceful moment of clarity. In that moment, I understood something I hadn’t really thought about before: when we come out on the other side, all of the glory will be to God. All of the credit will go to Him.
The world we live in is full of obstacles and speedbumps. What can you expect when living in a fallen world? As a child of the Most High King who triumphed over all our enemies, well… I expect to be victorious. Apparently, there are some out there, well-meaning Christians even, who would caution me in my expectations of receiving promises made by God.
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
I used to struggle with the verses that directed the reader to be still. I’m sorry, but what does that look like? If there’s something that needs to be done, then why would I be still and not do anything to get said thing done? If there’s a financial goal that seems vastly out of reach with our current income and even our typical income, why are we not trying to take on extra hours of work? How does be still get us closer to reaching our goal and our plans succeeding?
Before any of this rerouting happened, I started reading about King Jehoshaphat and II Chronicles 20 helped prepare me for the detour that was coming around the corner. I’m only going to type a few verses, not the entire chapter, so I hope you’ll crack open your Bible and read it through. Here’s a brief summary: Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was informed that a great multitude was on their way to attack his people and kingdom.
And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. II Chronicles 20:3 NASB
Welp, that sounds pretty stinkin’ scary! According to verse 1, there were three different groups that were on their way to attack Judah, but Jehoshaphat was still afraid! Y’all, if you look back in II Chronicles 17:12-19, Jehoshaphat had over 1 million valiant warriors under the command of other valiant warriors who are described as being equipped for war! The three groups coming to make war with him must have been quite formidable to leave Jehoshaphat afraid. But even in his fear – he didn’t deny being afraid – he turned his attention to seek the Lord.
How often do we turn our attention to seek the Lord when everything is going well? Nothing going awry, nothing off or amiss, and no big decisions on our plate – do we seek the Lord? Do we only seek the Lord when something is wrong or off? A family friend posed this question a little differently, but it got me thinking. Are we only actively pursuing the blessings or are we actively seeking the One who blesses?
Without too much introspection – if that goes too far it becomes naval-gazing – I’ll tell you that I was partially convicted. While I’m excited to open my Bible each day and read in it, there are days that I’m not listening to the be still instructions. I have a running dialogue going with God – I only say Amen at the end of prayers said over meals – but do I typically dialogue when I’m worried or afraid? I enjoy God, but I also need God. Let’s take a look at verse 14 – the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel who was in the midst of the people in the assembly…
And he said, “Listen, all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.'” II Chronicles 20:15 NASB
“‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” II Chronicles 20:17 NASB
Jehoshaphat was afraid and sought God. God answered with a statement of reassurance, and then tells them that He’s going to take care of it – they just have to stand there – they just need to be still – salvation is coming. Moses said the same thing to the Israelites when they were facing the Red Sea and the Egyptian army:
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 NASB
One of the things I love about this passage from Exodus is that it proves that sometimes we’re to be moving. Verse 15 is God’s response to Moses and He tells them to go forward and to have them walk through the parted waters. Moses didn’t know what God was going to do – he just knew that God was going to save them. He didn’t know how, but he knew He would. I have to admit that I would never have come up with the Red Sea parting and a couple million or so people walking through on dry ground. But that means God gets all the glory – He gets all the credit.
Like Moses, King Jehoshaphat didn’t know how God was going to save them. He had a choice – several in fact. He could choose to tremble in fear and face the great multitude with all of his mighty warriors. He could have chosen to seek God but ignore what He said. But, not denying his fear, Jehoshaphat turned to God. Not only that, but he listened to and followed what God said. Jehoshaphat did something beautiful in his response to God’s goodness before the deliverance ever came: he worshipped God.
In II Chronicles 20:18-21, we read about Jehoshaphat bowing and worshipping God after being told that the battle belonged to God. But then it goes on to give us the account of how Jehoshaphat arranged his people who would march out to face the enemy. At the front were those who praised God in what is referred to as the beauty of holiness – they sang, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
When they began singing and praising, God set about destroying the multitudes who were coming against His people (vs 22-23). When Jehoshaphat and his people came to the lookout of the wilderness where they were to face the enemy, they saw them, but they were all corpses. They had destroyed each other. So instead of a fight in order to keep and protect what they held dear, they took three days to collect the spoils and they had more than they could carry.
They were facing what was to destroy them, but they came out better than before. All glory to God. Sometimes we’re called to be still. Sometimes we’re called to move forward. And sometimes we’re called to march out to face our enemy. But the battle belongs to God. We’re always to seek Him, to worship Him, and to give Him all the glory.
Not sure what multitudes you’re facing today. Maybe it’s a medical diagnosis, a financial hardship, or a loss of a loved one – it’s okay to be afraid. Take that fear to the only One who can bring you out with more blessings than you can carry. Respond to God in worship today – even before the deliverance comes.