Through the Word in 2020 #79 - July 22 / In The Valley of IN-decision

All of us face times of great indecision in life. Confronted with situations we simply do not know how to navigate. What we would really like is a sign, a “word from the Lord”, a directing impulse or some sort of supernatural communication that blazes across the sky: “DO THIS!” Fortunately for those who are Christ’s, we are never at a total loss. We are His and He is ours and we are never left alone. And we can go to His Word both for wisdom principles, as well as for examples in the lives of those who have walked with God before us. One such example is in our reading today in 2 Chronicles 20–22:9; which along with Luke 7:18–50; Psalm 114; and 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10 round out today’s Scripture readings.

I’m Reid Ferguson. And this is Through the Word in 2020.

King Jehoshaphat was in a tough place. Someone brought him the news that a huge army was about to attack. And the text says “Jehoshaphat was afraid.” I would be too. But what he did next is what forms the 1st of 4 things we need to see in this account. Yes, he was afraid, and being afraid he “set his face to seek the Lord.” In fact, he led the nation in this act. His prayer is found in vss. 6-12. In and of itself the prayer isn’t remarkable though it is a good model - he just laid the whole situation out before the Lord in detail as he understood it. But it is his closing sentence that strikes me as the 1st necessary step: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

In other words, he simply fully humbled himself before His God. He didn’t suggest or tell God what to do. He didn’t formulate his plan and then ask God to give it success. He just flat out said - we don’t have a clue as to what to do, but we are going to look to you and not try to come up with the answer ourselves. Help!

God does answer this prayer, but not the way you might have thought. Jahaziel prophesies to him. And what does he say? Essentially, go about the business of doing what you know you should be doing in serving and obeying Him. You’ve got a battle to fight, get ready to go to battle. Not very profound was it? But the point was, whether you know exactly what to do about THIS specific threat or not - don’t become paralyzed - do what you know you should be doing either way.

The 3rd thing to note is that Jehoshaphat and all the people at this point simply needed to trust God to provide what was needed in the right way and in the right time - whether they could see it then or not.

And lastly, they stopped to “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” To remind themselves of who God is - Lord, sovereign - even over this situation; that His steadfast love endures forever - which includes NOW. And to give thanks that this is the case.

In the end, they went away far richer then the way they went into it. But in the dark moments of indecision - they gave us a most blessed example to follow.

Christian - facing something you feel you are just without the wherewithal to handle?

Humble yourself before Him.

Be about what you know you ought to be doing even if this weren’t the case.

Trust Him to answer - perhaps in a way you never imagined.

And give thanks to the Lord. For His steadfast loves truly does endure forever. Even now.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.