“O our God…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.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
Jehoshaphat was king in the southern kingdom of Judah, when a great army comprised of several neighbouring nations came up to attack God’s people. The army of Judah was no match for the invading enemy. So what should Jehoshaphat do? There may be those who would counsel him to reach down and tap into some hidden strength deep within his soul. He may be counselled to step up and be the man that God called him to be for that moment in time, and to do his very best. Christianity can often be interpreted as doing your best for God.
But Jehoshaphat correctly assesses the strength of Judah and recognizes that they are absolutely powerless before this great enemy. And he does the only sensible thing to do – he cries out to the Sovereign God of heaven and earth! “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” God answers in an amazing way and saves His people from these vast hordes of enemies without Judah ever having to lift a sword.
The heart of Christianity is not doing our best for God. The heart of Christianity is recognizing that we are completely powerless before the enemies of sin and Satan and death, and all our hope must be in the God who alone is all-powerful to save. The Old Testament tells story after story of a people trapped in weakness and bondage, and then redeemed by the love and the grace and the power of this amazing God!
And every story is but a fore-shadowing of the greatest story ever told – when God, Himself would step into the world He created, and suffer and die for lost sinners so that we could be eternally set free! God’s glory in salvation shines the brightest when my weakness is on the clearest display! The apostle Paul says in agreement, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” May God help us in all our trials and troubles, when we don’t know what to do, to keep our eyes fixed and focused on Him who alone can save! And may we sing, in gratitude for our salvation, with Jehoshaphat and the Old Testament saints of God, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”