2 Powerful Miracles That Remind Us God Always Fights Our Battles
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When life hits hard and I feel overpowered and under resourced, I find comfort knowing God fights my fiercest battles. Some seasons create more angst than others, especially when triumph seems slow in coming. But I’m learning to quiet my fears by reflecting on situations in which the Lord gained miraculous victory in times of imminent attack.
Although Scripture records numerous instances when God defended His children from seemingly unconquerable forces, my favorites record when He defeated invading armies first during King Jehoshaphat’s reign, and a century and a half later when Hezekiah occupied the throne.
These historical accounts remind me of the immutable grace, might, and faithfulness of the Lord.
The Leader Who Aligned with an Evil King
For years, while I cognitively understood my Father’s perfect love, I often viewed Him as exacting rather than merciful and kind. While I knew I stood forgiven in Christ, the most wounded places in my heart failed to receive this truth. Because of this, I struggled to fully trust in His desire to care for me. This is one of the reasons I appreciate how He responded to King Jehoshaphat, who ruled in Judah in the ninth century BC. 2 Chronicles 17 tells us that God was with him because he sought the Lord, purged the land of idolatry, and commanded the Levites to teach Scripture throughout the land.
This occurred around 850 BC, when evil King Ahab occupied the throne in the north. Unlike Jehoshaphat, Ahab “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Despite this, King Jehoshaphat agreed to an alliance with him against Aram. But first, he sought God’s council (1 Kings 22:5). The Lord responded through a prophet named Micaiah, stating, in essence, that Ahab would be killed in combat.
Despite this, both kings went to battle, unnecessarily reigniting conflict with the nation of Aram. As predicted, Ahab lost his life. You can probably imagine the impact this had on King Jehoshaphat. He had foolishly disregarded God’s warning, partnered with a wicked king, and barely escaped with his life. Considering this, one might’ve expected God to withdraw His protective hand. However, that isn’t how He responded. While the Lord chastised Jehoshaphat for the alliance, He also affirmed him for having set his heart on God.
Judah in Crisis
Sometime later, after carrying out additional reforms, Jehoshaphat and his people found themselves under attack. In 2 Chronicles 20, he learned a “vast army” comprised of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites had already invaded Judah and were less than 30 miles from the capital city.
Verses 3-5 state:
“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard.”
What an example this set! Not only did he show the people the proper way to respond to fear, but he also modeled humble repentance. Yes, he’d made a poor decision when he aligned with Ahab. But he also returned to God and, when faced with impending doom, trusted in Him and Him alone.
In his public prayer, Jehoshaphat declared powerful truths regarding God’s nature and might. In verse six, he addressed Him as, “LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven?” In the original Hebrew, he referred to Him as, “Yahweh Elohim,” a name that emphasized His creative power and authority. Jehoshaphat called to the One who formed all that exists from nothing, that spoke light into darkness, and brought fertility to a once barren land (Gen. 1-2).
The king also referred to Him as the God of their ancestors. No doubt this reminded them all of God’s faithfulness throughout the generations. In verse six, he said, “Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” After declaring their allegiance in verse 9, the king concluded in a state of complete dependence, saying, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
How often do we feel the same? Some problems are so ginormous, no amount of human wisdom or strategizing will alleviate the crisis. But when we’re at a loss as to how to proceed, we can turn to our all-knowing, ever-present Father who always has the perfect plan.
The Divine Defender
This was precisely how King Jehoshaphat responded. Following, Scripture tells us that the Spirit of the Lord came upon a man in their midst. Through Him, God told the people, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” However, they still needed to step out in faith. At the Lord’s command, they set out the next morning to take up their positions. But they did with souls filled with worship, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever” (v. 21).
Verse 22 states, “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Sier who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” Their enemies destroyed each other! By the time Jehoshaphat’s men arrived to the battle ground, all they saw were a bunch of dead bodies.
As a result, “The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms” (v. 29), and Jehoshaphat and his people experienced peace, “for his God had given him rest on every side” (v. 30).
This account illustrates a few things. When threatened, we might feel tempted to seek refuge in false securities we’ve learned to rely on throughout our lives. We’ll soon discover, however, that only God has the power to save. Thankfully, His merciful response to Jehoshaphat assures us that, the moment we return to Him, our Lord always showers us with grace. Finally, this historical record demonstrates that while God often calls us to step forward in faith, He alone secures the victory.
Taking Back What Evil Stole
About 150 years after Judah’s miraculous rescue, a 25-year-old man named Hezekiah assumed the throne. Whereas King Jehoshaphat followed a righteous king, and therefore likely grew up in a relatively godly environment, Hezekiah’s world must’ve been wrought with fear, uncertainty and trauma. His father Ahaz was so wicked, he established idolatry throughout the land, destroyed the Temple furnishings and closed its doors, and even sacrificed his children in the fire.
Pause to consider the influence of such a man on the nation and palace life. Proverbs 29:12 states, “If a ruler listens to lies” – including the demonic forces driving idolatry – “all his officials become wicked.” These types of environments can create ruthless individuals who view everything and everyone as threats to conquer. The forces of evil had infiltrated the royal family and was seeking to steal, kill, and destroy the very foundations of justice.
But at some point, God grabbed hold of Hezekiah’s heart, and at the age of 25, he “opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:3). In the first month of his reign, he assembled the priests and Levites, told them to consecrate themselves, and to remove “all defilements from the sanctuary” (v. 5). Once they’d finished, he publicly worshiped, and with singing and trumpets playing, the people resumed their sacrifices to the Lord. Hezekiah’s heartfelt reforms demonstrate that one’s past, no matter how horrific, need not define them or plot their course.
A Spiritual War
Unfortunately, his story also reminds us of the spiritual opposition God’s children often face whenever they seek to live for Him. 2 Chronicles 32 begins with these words: “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself” (v. 1).
Did this confuse him and his people? After all his massive reforms, why hadn’t the Lord granted him and his people peace? He could’ve easily followed in his father’s footsteps, determined that Assyria’s “gods” were stronger, and abandoned the Lord to idolatry. Instead, he called the nation to resolute faith. Assembling his military officers, he said:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8).
When Victory Seems Slow Coming
He acknowledged Assyria’s might. They came against Judah with a “vast army,” but he reminded them that God was greater and would help them fight their battles. And He did, but not immediately. In fact, for a time, the situation appeared to grow worse as Sennacherib taunted and terrorized the people. This went on for some time, yet Hezekiah remained faithful. Entering the temple, he laid the threat before the Lord. In his prayer, he proclaimed His power and authority, acknowledged the danger they faced, and begged for deliverance.
God answered him in his distress, stating the King of Assyria “will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before with shield or build a siege ramp against it. … I will defend this city and save it” (Isaiah 37:33-35).
And as He always does, God made good on His promise and once again defeated Judah’s enemies. 2 Kings 19:35-36 states, “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.”
This account highlights enduring faith. The longer our difficulties last, and the more intense they feel, the harder it can be to hold tight to truth. In our frightened and weakened state, our vulnerability to the enemy’s lies increase. We gain strength by relentlessly and continually seeking God, reminding ourselves of His promises recorded in Scripture, and surrounding ourselves with His people. Whether He brings victory in an instant or after what feels like a never-ending assault, we know our God will triumph, and in Him, we will overcome. As Romans 8:37 proclaims, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/cineuno
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.