11 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. LORD, YOU ARE OUR GOD; DO NOT LET MAN PREVAIL AGAINST YOU.” 2 Chronicles 14
This is the prayer of King Asa, before Judah went into battle with the vast army of Zerah the Cushite. It’s a short prayer and is recorded for us TO READ AND PRAY OURSELVES TODAY. We looked at this yesterday but some may need help for their own situations and I believe this prayer is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s certainly an earnest prayer from the leader of God’s people in time of trouble and great danger.
12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. SUCH A GREAT NUMBER OF THE CUSHITES FELL THAT THEY COULD NOT RECOVER; THEY WERE CRUSHED BEFORE THE LORD AND HIS FORCES. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.
God intervened and turned the whole situation around. The enemy’s losses were so great that they couldn’t rise to attack again, the Lord inflicted total defeat.
When Israel crossed the Jordan to take the INHERITANCE GOD HAD GIVEN THEM IN THE LAND OF CANAAN (God has an inheritance for all of us His people!) they fought individual kings. Then 5 kings of the Amorites banded together to attack them. Joshua 10:5 The enemy ‘raised the stakes or upped the ante’, but God provided Divine help from heaven and the enemy was vanquished. Then all the northern kings banded together to fight against God’s people.
4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together Joshua 11
God told Israel not to be afraid and the whole vast army of the northern confederation was defeated. The size of the enemy is irrelevant when the Lord is on the battlefield with His people. The harder the enemy pushes the greater his losses and this is still true today.
The battle with the Cushite army ended with Judah becoming greatly enriched on the spoils of their enemies.
13 The men of Judah carried off a LARGE AMOUNT of plunder.
14 They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror of the Lord had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was MUCH PLUNDER there. 15 They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Judah were victorious and greatly increased in wealth and property after God enabled them to resist their enemies.
IMMANUEL, GOD IS WITH US TODAY.