Main Scripture: 1 Chronicles 5
The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war. 19 They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. (1 Chronicles 5:18-20)
7 "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
It is very clear from the reading that these soldiers, though numerous, well-armed, skilled at waging war and valiant, obtained the victory over their enemies because they were "helped". And not by the flesh and blood kind either, but by God Himself. Why, those Assyrians didn't stand a chance whatsoever.
When these soldiers were ambushed from behind and from in front, they looked UP and cried out to God to deliver them from their powerful enemy. Did God respond? Of course! He always comes through for those who trust Him implicitly.
But wait ..... Is this the same group of people, who a couple of verses down are unfaithful to God? Hm ... They went from being called famous, mighty men of valor to being called men who played the harlot after false gods, almost in the same breath! Hm ...
How quickly they forgot the real God who had helped them. How quickly we forget the God who answers our prayers, who lovingly watches over us and cares for us.
Forgive us God. Help us to continually trust You in our battle against the flesh, the world and the devil.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. (Psalm 118:8-9 NKJV)
RE*J*oicita 
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