You and What Army?

OT: 2 Chronicles 14-16
NT: Matthew 5:1-13

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2 Chronicles 14:9-12 — Zerah the Cushite marched out against [Judah] with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. [King] Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah.

Anyone who has seen a map of the Middle East knows that Israel is not a very big country. It is slender and hilly, with a sea to the west and a desert to the east. The ancient nation of Judah had even fewer people than modern Israel. Judah was just two tribes out of 10 and its army consisted of every able bodied man, or about 300,000. That number sounds big but in every engagement, it seems that the Judahite army was outnumbered. The Cushites were a neighboring people group with chariots -- a superior battle weapon. King Asa of Judah, Solomon's great-grandson, confronted the Cushite army on the field of battle and quickly realized he was outnumbered. Yikes! What do we do? So he did what all who are lowly and outnumbered should do — he called on the God of the lowly, YHWH, the god of Israel. The Lord's name was at stake, for His people were at war. So the Lord defended Asa and Judah.

Asa knew that the God of Israel was righteous and just, strong to save, particularly when the orphan and widow are involved. God seeks those who humble themselves before Him and call upon His mercy and deliverance. Saint Peter said we should humble ourselves before the Lord and He would lift us up (1 Pet 5:6). Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit — those who know they are spiritually bankrupt and in need of God's mercy and grace. Asa knew that God would save the lowly, especially if those who are lowly are called by His name. Through faith in Christ Jesus, that's us! If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up and save us from our trials. It may not be immediate and it may not always be the way we choose but He will do it. Just as he did on an ancient battlefield, long ago.

Be God's.