Trust in God in Front of the Vast Army

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Trust in God in Front of the Vast Army

Date: Nov. 21, 2025

Passage

2 Chronicles 20:1-13 (ESV)

1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy—11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 20:9

‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’

Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites formed an alliance and came to attack Judah. Jehoshaphat heard the news that the vast army had already approached En Gedi, which was close by.

Jehoshaphat was very alarmed and declared a fast. In times of hardship and vulnerability, Jehoshaphat prayed to God in the temple. He did not complain to God about this sudden hardship. Rather, he acknowledged the power and might of God. In his prayer, he was confident that God would keep his promise to hear them and save them.

Jehoshaphat earnestly prayed for God’s mercy. He acknowledged that they had no power to face this vast army. They did not know what to do. But Jehoshaphat confessed that their eyes are on God, in complete trust and reliance.

All the men, wives, and children all stood before God. What a beautiful picture! This was possible because they completely trusted and believed in God. They did not panic, but they stayed before God because they believed in God’s sovereignty.

Prayer: Lord, we face hardship like the vast army in our lives. Lord, help us not to complain, but pray like Jehoshaphat. Help us acknowledge your power and might. Help us to believe that you hear our prayer and you will save us. Help us to stand and pray in comp

One Word: Trust in God alone

Battle is God’s

2 Chronicles 20:14-37

Key Verse: 20:15

Today's Question

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