Our Eyes Are on You

In 2 Chronicles 20 we read of a time in Israel’s history when a great army came against Judah. Outnumbered and in distress, an alarmed King Jehoshaphat and the citizens of Judah resolved to turn to the LORD. As Jehoshaphat led his people in prayer, his closing statement says it all: “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

In our lives too, it can sometimes feel as if we are facing an enormous challenge or difficulty, maybe one that is totally beyond our ability to cope. It can seem utterly daunting; indeed terrifying. And the more we focus on the problem, the worse we can feel. Perhaps that is the very reason we would do well to learn a lesson from Jehoshaphat and seek to turn our attention away from the size of the ‘enemy’ we face. Instead, we should turn to God and focus our eyes on Him.

In the case of Jehoshaphat, as he did just that, God gave immediate encouragement through the words of a Levite who was in attendance: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Sure enough, as Jehoshaphat and his army marched out to meet the invaders, God did indeed act on their behalf to secure a great victory, without them even needing to fire a shot.

So often in the bible we read of God’s servants being completely outnumbered with no earthly way to succeed. But it’s the realisation that they couldn’t sort it out themselves which drove them to the means necessary to secure a great victory. They turned the situation over to God.

Whatever you are facing today, and in the days ahead, maybe Jehoshaphat’s prayer could be a useful blueprint for you too. “We do not know what to do, Lord, but our eyes are on you”.