There Is Always One More Hurdle
“O our God, wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.” II Chronicles 20:12-13
We are facing an enemy now, one of the worst kinds because this enemy is one that we can’t see coming, and we have no real physical defense against it except to follow the protocol of common sense to protect ourselves from contagion. But even after being extremely careful to wash our hands and stay out of crowds, there is no assurance that we will not be exposed. The main thing is not to panic. God is still in control, and He knows each and every person’s situation. This coronavirus is perhaps a onetime thing, or it may be like the flu and return every year. I hope not, but the scientists are working on a vaccine which we should all pray will be successful in preventing this illness. But in the meantime, I am going to pray that it doesn’t come my way or the way of my family and friends, just as you all, I am sure, are praying. But if it does, I pray that the Lord will see us through it, and He will get glory out of the way that we respond. I think about all the folks that I have known who have died of cancer, heart attacks, automobile accidents, or other means, and it just reminds me that no one is immune to trouble.
The above verse is part of the account of King Jehoshaphat who reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah. He walked in the ways of the LORD and ruled righteously, not perfectly, but he was considered one of the “good guys” particularly when compared to the evil reigns of so many others, especially those kings who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel. Both Judah and Israel had enemies, which has been the pattern for them for thousands of years and continues today. At that time, the Ammonites, Moabites, and people of Mt. Seir were planning to attack Judah in an effort to drive them from the land that God had given them. Jehoshaphat’s first act was to pray to the LORD and call for a fast among all the people of Judah. They responded overwhelmingly. Jehoshaphat’s prayer was straightforward: “we don’t know what to do, LORD, and we are depending on You.” God’s answer came immediately through the Levite priest: “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (II Chronicles 20:15).
No one ever said that life is fair, because it is not by the world’s standards. We desire that everything be in our favor, that only good will come our way, and that our endeavors will always be successful. But experience has taught us that is not how life works. The Christian author, David Roper, wrote in his book “Psalm 23, The Song of A Passionate Heart:, “I used to think that life was mostly green pastures with an occasional dark valley along the way, but now I realize it’s the other way around. There are days of surprising joy, but much of life is a vale of tears.” That is somewhat of a depressing statement, but it is a true statement. My personal experiences have taught me so.
I wonder what would happen if the President went on television and called for all of America, including him and Congress, to pray and fast, and, oh yeah, to also repent of sin. I can just hear some of them begin to start screaming, “separation of church and state”. Even if many would not be willing to get on their knees and ask God for help, at least those of us who are believers in Christ should lead the way. The efforts of our government, while appropriate, can not fix this problem. Psalm 46:1 tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He stands ready to help us, but we just have to ask with a humble heart. Perhaps we should pray like Jehoshaphat, “we don’t know what to do, LORD, and we are depending on You”. If it’s His will, God can turn the tide on this pandemic.