Our Eyes are Upon You

Yes, I should be packing. I had a really productive day yesterday, doesn't that count for something? Actually, I was catching up on some friend's blogs, and was reminded of the theme of God battling on our behalf.

A friend, Barry, had posted about Exodus 14 where Moses tells the Israelites God has the battle and they will only need to be still. Several of my friends are facing giants in battle here recently, so this has been at the forefront of my little brain. Obviously, packing has not!

One of my favorite battle stories from the Old Testament (II Chron. 20) is when Jehoshaphat is facing what seems like certain destruction by the Moabites, and fellow unpronounceable evil-doers. King Jehoshaphat is told that a vast army is coming and basically has him surrounded. These guys sound like some bad dudes!

Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast for all of Judah and goes before the assembly and prays an amazing prayer. v 12 "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

I've not known what it is like to face vast armies, who are hell-bent on my destruction, or even come close to facing the struggles of many of my friends. I have prayed that very prayer, though. "Lord, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you."

The good news is that God is always victorious. The rest of the story tells about a man in the assembly being struck by the Spirit and declared that the battle wasn't theirs, but God's (Where have we heard that before?). He told them they would not have to fight, but sit back and watch the deliverance of the Lord. The coolest part is where the armies of the bad dudes, having them basically surrounded, started turning on each other and completely annihilated each other. Jehoshaphat gets there and sees nothing but dead bodies. Can you imagine? It took Jehoshaphat and his men THREE days to carry off all the loot.

v 19-20 "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 on every side."

That's the kind of protection I want, and there is only one source for it.