Our Eyes Are On You

Once upon a time there was a man named Jehoshaphat. This man was the king of Judah and was a strong man of battle. The Moabites and Ammonites came against him in battle one day, and you should understand that these were powerful armies. His response is recorded after he was told of their arrival, "Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

I love that it states that Jehoshaphat was afraid; a king, a strong man of God, was afraid. But his reaction to this fear is what strikes me the most: "he set his face to seek the LORD".  He then went into the house of the Lord an spoke with God in prayer. He recounted how God had protected and provided for them in the past. He acknowledged how God rules over kingdoms and nations and has all power and might in His hand. His states his utter dependence upon God. Then he ends with this, 

"O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For 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 understood that he was powerless, but he knew the Source of all the power in the world. He took his eyes off of himself, off of his army, and off of the terrifying armies that were quickly approaching, and turned them to God. His eyes were on the LORD.

God's beautiful response was, "‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Spoiler alert, Judah won. 

In this glorious telling of God's provision and protection of His people years ago, I rest in the fact that this God has not changed. This is my God. I rest in the fact that when I do not know what to do, and it feels as though there is a great horde against me -- whether that looks like finances, relationships, an unknown future, or any other number of problems we deal with daily -- my eyes can fix on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). I find assurance that multiple times throughout the Old Testament God reminds His people that the battle belongs to the LORD. 

Whatever your battle today, you can joyously turn your eyes to God. He knows what to do. Rest in that today. 

"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” --Exodus 14:14

Read the whole story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 -- it's worth the read!