Help #3—Overwhelming Help

Yahweh’s Spirit moved Jehaziel to say, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, Yahweh says this to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for success in the battle is not up to you; it is up to God.’” 2 Chronicles 20:14–15

God is more than equal to any task we face. No matter what the odds, he is able and willing to overcome the discrepancies between us and our adversaries when we call on him for help. When Judah was assaulted by Ethiopia, King Asa prayed: “There is no one besides you to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Yahweh, our deity, for we trust in you; and in your name we have come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our deity; do not let human beings prevail against you.” God answered with a mighty victory. Forty years later, when Judah experienced similar trouble from Moab and Ammon, Jehoshaphat and his people prayed, “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Then God spoke these words of comfort and deliverance. More astounding than these victories, God raised Jesus from among the dead and gave him authority to rule so that we can confidently approach his throne, expecting to receive mercy and helpful grace when we need it. So we can have hope too. For “he scans the earth so he can strongly support those whose heart is completely his.”

O Lord, open my eyes to the reality of my need, and grant me the humility to cry out to you with an honest and expectant heart.