The Captain of Your Faith
Abijah (called Abijam in 1 Kings 15) had just delivered a great speech for all of his people to hear. He was the King of Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel made up of Judah and Benjamin.
It was a speech about the LORD God of Israel and His covenant with King David. It declared that God himself was Judah's Captain and warned that fighting him is fighting against the LORD Himself.
Abijah's father, Rehoboam, and his foolish leadership had led to a split in the kingdom, and now God's people were about to fight each other.
Northern Kingdom vs. Southern Kingdom.
Abijah wasn't what you would call a godly man, but because of God's love and covenant with David, Abijah had God's favor.
“Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (1 Kings 15:1-5)
As Abijah finished up his speech with these inspiring words
“And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.” (2 Chronicles 13:12)
Jeroboam made a dishonorable attack and ambushed from behind.
The cheers echoing from Abijah's speech of faith were now turned to cries of desperation. Judah was surrounded and facing defeat.
Let's Pause...
Take a second to personalize this story. I doubt you're reading this strapped in armor, holding a sword, ready for battle, but you may feel surprised and even surrounded by fearful circumstances, and your songs of faith have turned to cries of fear.
Back to the story...
“Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.” (2 Chronicles 13:15)
All Judah could do was shout, but that was enough. Even with an imperfect leader who had a foolish father and who followed in his father's ways, God showed up, and the Northern Kingdom didn't have a chance.
Abijah, as flawed as he might have been, was right. The LORD God was their Captain. He was with them, and that made all the difference.
Your Captain...
Have fears ambushed you? Cry out the the Captain of your faith. God moves when we cry out to Him.
It feels awkward in your inbox today after abandoning you all for months. It is like that feeling when you show up to a family reunion but feel like a stranger because you haven't seen these people since the last family reunion.
Okay, I might be overexaggerating a bit, but I'm glad to be back in your inbox, and I hope you're not put off by seeing my name pop up.
I've tried to write in private and stared at a blank page several times, intending to write to you, but my mind goes blank, and my fingers seem to refuse to type when the pressure is on.
Not today, though.
Today, I'm hitting send, and I hope this simple thought, which came from my personal devotions, puts a smile on your face and helps you fight the fears trying to ambush you.