El Shaddai ("God Almighty")

One of my favorite accounts in the Bible is 2 Chronicles 20. It tells what happened when the people of Moab, the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. It reminds me to look to the Lord for help and to trust Him because He is bigger than any problem I have. It puts people in perspective by reminding me that God is big and people are small. Our God is mighty in battle and awesome in power! The Lord fights our battles for us as we look to Him, ask him for help and praise Him!

2 Chron 20:3-5

3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 Then 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, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?

2 Chron 20:15-16

Thus says the Lord to you:'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

2 Chron 20:21-23

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

"Praise the Lord,

For His mercy endures forever."  

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

The most important reason this is one of my favorite accounts, is because it is true! God’s Word is true. God’s Word is powerful and alive and works in us to heal, instruct, comfort and encourage us. I love the Word of God. If it were just a dusty good ol’ book on the shelf that had no life, I would not love it. But it is alive because of the breath of the Holy Spirit upon it. The Bible is the inspired word of God. The Holy Spirit is in me, and opens my eyes to God’s truth. He teaches and counsels me. Otherwise the Bible would not be alive to me.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

            Hannah Whitall Smith says in her book, The God of All Comfort,

“It is of vital importance for us to understand that the Bible is a statement, not of theories, but of actual facts; and that things are not true because they are in the Bible, but they are only in the Bible because they are true…. And although this may seem very dry and bare to start with, it will, if steadfastly persevered in, result in very blessed inward revelations, and will sooner or later lead us out into such a knowledge of God as will transform our lives. This kind of knowing brings us convictions; and to my mind convictions are far superior to any inward revelations, delight as these are. An inward revelation may be upset by the state of ones health, or by many upsetting things, but a conviction is permanent… I am so absolutely certain that coming to know Him as He really is will bring unfailing comfort and peace to every troubled heart…”

I know this to be true in my life. God speaks to me in His Word. He comforts, helps, and encourages me the way only He can. No one can speak to me the way the Lord does. No one can understand my feeling or what I am troubled by. He knows me completely. He made me and loves me. He is all wise, true and good, He is able to help me like no one else can! Don’t go to friends, books, movies, magazines the internet and all kinds of things to get your help and advice. Go to the Word of God and let God Himself speak to you. He will lead, guide and counsel you in a way that will not steer you wrong. People make mistakes. God never makes mistakes. People disappoint us. God will never disappoint us. Trust in His Word.

 I trust in Your Word. ( Ps. 119:42)

            So that gets back to 2 Chronicles 20. I love this story because it is true and it encourages me, helps me and increases my faith and trust in the True, Mighty, Awesome God and Savior Jesus Christ!