“Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time and the children of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers.”
2 Chronicles 13:18
There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam, kings of Judah (southern kingdom) and Israel (northern kingdom) respectively. Abijah gathered 400,000 choice warriors, Jeroboam 800,000 choice warriors. When Jeroboam surrounded Abijah’s men on both sides they were surprised and cried out to the Lord in the battle. That day 500,000 of Jeroboam’s men died as the Lord answered Abijah’s cry giving his men victory over their wayward brothers to the north. The kingdom of Israel had turned away from God, but Judah had remained faithful up to that time and the Lord came to their rescue. While Jeroboam had an army twice as big as Abijah’s and his strategy was far superior, which in the natural would have given him the victory, God stepped into the equation because Judah relied upon Him.
Victory is not a matter of strength or strategy when God is on the scene. Brains and numbers, experience and advantage are not prerequisites to winning in the realm of God’s kingdom. What makes all the difference is a total and complete reliance upon God. It is He who will give us the victory when we cry out to Him. He will run to our rescue and enable us to overcome seemingly impossible odds. He will not fail.
Add to reliance upon the Lord confidence and a clear conscience. Earlier in the story Abijah stood on a mountain top, having gathered his troops for war, and addressed Jeroboam and the Israelites. He acknowledged their strength in numbers but warned them because of their weakness in following the Lord as they relied on golden calves which they had with them. The Israelites had “cast out the priests of the Lord” (v.9), but Abijah declared that they had not forsaken the Lord and had continued to keep His commands. He then went on to declare that God was with them and that they should not fight against the Lord, for they would not prosper (v 12).
Prevailing against Satan and his strategy will require three things: confidence which is born from a pure conscience before God, and complete trust in the Lord when it seems all is lost. Be sure there is no compromise in your life, that you have a clear conscience before Him. Stand in Christ who alone is your salvation, fight the good fight of faith, and call upon His name. In doing so God will give you the victory you need at this time.
Is there anything of self or strategy upon which you are relying other than God? What kind of attack are you facing now? Do a spiritual inventory, get your heart right, and then declare with confidence that the Lord is your God and He will not fail!
