2 Chronicles 13:18

New King James Version

Thus, the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers.

For Meditation

The two sister nations, Israel under Jeroboam and Judah under Abijah, rose against each other in combat. Israel’s army twice outnumbered that of Judah. The outcome was obvious – a resounding defeat for Judah (2 Chron. 13:2-3).

 Abijah tried to reason with Jeroboam that fighting against Judah was tantamount to fighting against God. Jeroboam, however, would not listen. He craftily sandwiched Judah and attacked them from both front and rear. Ahijah cried to God, and He delivered them (14, 18). Judah prevailed against Israel with her vast army because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors (18).

Two things strike me in this narrative that is instructive to our walk with the Lord. 

God hears the cry of His faithful servants. When King Abijah and Judah found themselves surrounded by enemy forces of Israel under Jeroboam, they cried out to the Lord, and He delivered them (14-16).

No matter the size of the enemy forces that have risen against you, God, your heavenly Father, will deliver you when you call on Him. We have this confident assurance in Psalm 50:15.

 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Again, when we acknowledge the Lord as our God, do not forsake Him, and live for Him, we have confidence in times of trouble. We can rely on Him when the enemy comes against us. Abijah made this noticeably clear in his speech.

“But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties” (10).

Because Abijah and Judah relied on God, He gave them victory (18).

So, the Hebrews writer encourages us this way:

“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

We cannot have it any better than this.

So, what is your problem today?