2 Chronicles 32: 7 – 8
“Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”
I am still pulling from the example of Hezekiah. We are learning from him some lessons on spiritual warfare and leadership. In today’s selection he encouraged his followers by letting them know that the good guys are more powerful than the bad guys. There is a similar story in 2 Kings 6: 17. In that story the King of Aram was angry and wanted to kill Elisha so he sent an army after him. Elisha’s servant awoke that morning to discover Aram’s army was encircling the city and he was in a state of panic. Elisha, however, knew his God and could discern spiritual things as well as physical. He prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened and when the servant looked around them he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. Elisha looked into the spiritual realm and knew that the forces of good outnumbered the forces of evil. He trusted God to deliver him as did Hezekiah.
Hezekiah declares boldly that the army of the flesh cannot defeat the army of God. Jesus said that God would send twelve legions of angels to his aid if he should request it. A legion is 6000. So, the spiritual forces outnumber the armies of the enemy and they are more powerful. Hezekiah said that the Assyrian King only had the arm of flesh whereas Israel has the army of God. “With us,” he said, “is the Lord our God.” That meant something to the people of Israel. They were greatly encouraged and understood that they need not fear.
I so wish this was the kind of revelation we lived in today. Our God is bigger and stronger than any foe whether that foe be a terrorist, an army or the devil. Jesus is our might and our salvation. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world (1John 4: 4). We can be encouraged today by the words of Hezekiah. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear the enemy for the greater power is with you and lives within you. If Hezekiah could prevail in the pre-messianic covenant then we should be very encouraged indeed. Let’s start living in this revelation. Our Father is bigger, stronger and with greater numbers than any force which comes against us. Be filled with courage, strength and boldness today and declare greater is the one who is with us than the one with them.
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