My Help Comes From the Lord

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that left you wondering, “What in the world was I thinking?” Most of us can probably relate to having a friend who got us into a sticky situation that could have gone horribly wrong but instead became the best story ever. Thats exactly what happened to King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 17 and 18.

Jehoshaphat was a righteous king. Chronicles 17 tells us that he was a highly honored and successful king because he followed God’s commands. Jehoshaphat’s empire grew stronger and stronger, and surrounding kingdoms recognized and feared God’s protection of him.

However, in Chronicles 18, he made a bad alliance with King Ahab who was an evil king. He wanted Jehoshaphat to join him in battle against another city. Jehoshaphat wisely insisted they ask God about it first, so Ahab gathered 400 prophets to ask for guidance. Unfortunately, those prophets had a history of simply telling Ahab what he wanted to hear.

Jehoshaphat then asked specifically for a prophet of the Lord, so Ahab called for Micaiah. Unlike the 400, King Ahab despised this prophet because he always spoke the word of God, and it was never what Ahab wanted to hear. Micaiah advised they would be defeated in battle, and Ahab would die because the Lord had claimed disaster for the evil king.

This did not change Ahab’s mind; he insisted on going to battle. Just in case what the prophet said was true, King Ahab decided to disguise himself as a soldier and instructed King Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robe. Jehoshaphat would be the only king on the battlefield dressed as a king, and Ahab would safely blend in with the other soldiers. Why on earth would Jehoshaphat have agreed to such a risky plan? Was it simply a horrible decision of aligning himself with the wrong person? Or was it a great leap of faith where Jehoshaphat had so much faith that he knew God would work things out? Scripture doesn’t tell us, so we can only speculate.

The enemy’s king had ordered his men not to fight with anyone except King Ahab. Soldiers soon spotted Jehoshaphat dressed in his royal robe and turned to attack him assuming he was Ahab. Then things took a sudden turn. Verse 31 says, “But Jehoshaphat cried out and the Lord helped him.” God protected him! This had seemed like a disaster waiting to happen, but God saved Jehoshaphat! And what a story to tell!

Whether it was a bad decision or great faith that put Jehoshaphat there, God protected him. This battle was not Jehoshaphat’s; it was Ahab’s. Ahab insisted they ignore the advice of the prophet of God. Although he tried to throw the enemy off with his disguise, nothing could stop God’s plan. The evil King Ahab was killed, and Jehoshaphat continued being a righteous king as God intended. Philippians 1:6 says, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Jehoshaphat cried out to God, and God saved him. Often in life we make bad choices and find ourselves in a difficult situation like Jehoshaphat, but praise God, He doesn’t ignore our cries for help! Psalm 121:1 says, “I lift my eyes toward the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.” He will do the same for us today.

If you are in a situation that seems to be impossible with no way out, remember that we serve a mighty God. Keep your eyes turned toward Him, trust that He will help you in the heat of the battle, and know that nothing can stop His plans for you.