Lessons From A Great Battle

Elder Culver's Daily Devotion for February 18, 2004

Soon after Solomon's grandson, Abijah, began to reign over Judah, war broke out with idolatrous Israel under King Jeroboam. From all appearances, it was a mismatch of great proportions.

Jeroboam's army consisted of 800,000 "mighty men of valour" (II Chronicles 13:3) while Abijah had only half that number.

Abijah attempted to persuade Jeroboam and his army to go home. As Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, he spoke to Jeroboam and all Israel, contrasting the godly behavior of Judah with the wicked idolatry of Israel. He concluded his appeal by saying, "God 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" (II Chronicles 13:12).

Morale is an important part of any conflict, be it war or a sporting event. No doubt Abijah's oration was a discouragement to many in Jeroboam's army. On the other hand, the men of Judah must have taken courage in being reminded that they were on the Lord's side, and the Lord would most surely be with them!

In the Christian warfare, we should keep this in mind. It matters not how strong the forces of darkness may be as they attack us from within and without, if our walk with God is as it should be, we should take courage.

Not only did Jeroboam have Abijah outnumbered two to one, but he also seemed to have a better strategy. He set an ambush behind Judah "And when judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind..." (II Chronicles 13:14). In such a condition, the "smart" thing for Judah to do, it seems, would be to surrender.

Instead, Judah "cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to past, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah" (II Chronicles 13:14,15). This resulted in the killing of 500,000 of Jeroboam's men. Jeroboam was weakened.

It is time for God's ministers to blow the gospel trumpet and the people to shout! The Lord has blessed His people with strength. Our message should not be doom and gloom, but victory in Jesus!

Yours in hope,
Elder Wayne Crocker