“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
2 Chron. 20:12, NKJV
When Jehoshaphat received the distressing news that a number of enemy nations were coming against him, he instantly did what every humble believer walking with the Lord would do – he reached for the best weapon he had – prayer. We read that he proclaimed a fast, gathered together others to ask help from the Lord, and then began to pray the promises of God. However, it was not always that way however with Jehoshaphat. Previously, he had made an unwise military alliance with wicked King Ahab (2 Chron. 18-19). Surrounded by the enemy on the battlefront, he barely made it back alive. Had he not cried out to the Lord the ending of the story could have been much different. Soundly rebuked upon his return by the prophet Jehu (19:2), he humbly received the divinely-inspired reprimand and made a full recovery spiritually. He had learned some hard lessons, but his life was turned around to where he had been before, walking in the strength of the Lord (2 Chron. 17). His restoration is a lot like those who upon yielding to the discipline of God, experience His abundant mercy and grace.
But on this occasion, events transpired much differently. Now the enemies were three times as many. The events this time did not come because of a foolish choice but rather it seemed to be a random unfolding of events that mounted against him. Trials sometimes happen that way. Jehoshaphat’s response is telling: “…for we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You”. He had a right perspective on the matter and knew Who to look to for help.
A Clear Perspective
Jehoshaphat’s words in all of this demonstrate what could be called spiritual 2020 vision. In the world of optometry, when someone possesses 2020 vision, they are said to have normal visual acuity measured at a distance of 20 feet. It is considered normal vision because it is neither blurry, nor dyslexic, but clear. But when eyesight is not what it should be, action needs to be taken to correct it. In our spiritual lives, how important it is to have the same clear vision when going through any trying circumstance. Rather than looking elsewhere as Jehoshaphat did on a previous occasion, instead we are to keep our focus on the Lord, fastened on Him like the crowd in the synagogue at Capernaum. When Peter looked at circumstances around him, he began to sink (Mt. 14:30) and cried out for fear. Instead of succumbing to our surroundings, we are to be like the Psalmist who declared: “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills – from whence comes my help?” (incidentally, a question). The statement follows – “My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Psa. 121:1). It was not the hills that will bring us the help we need, but instead the One who is beyond those hills, the Lord, much higher and much greater. That’s having the proper eyesight!
How’s Your Eyesight?
So, how is your eyesight? Do you turn to the Lord when your circumstances are greater than we can bear? When the servant of Elisha was fearful of the onslaught of the enemy, Elisha prayed that he would see “that there was more with us that there are with them” (2 Kg. 6:16). When he did, the Lord opened the eyes of the servant so that he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around (2 Kg. 6:17). That’s 2020 vision – seeing the army of Him who is invisible.
As we head into a new year – 2020, when so many of us are pressed on every side (2 Cor. 4:8), and when the enemy seems to be coming in like a flood, know that the Lord will indeed raise up a standard against him (Isa. 59:19). Let’s do what it takes to get our “vision” corrected. Let us not forget that there are more with us than there are with them, the same view that Elisha’s servant had in battle and the same clear vision that Jehoshaphat had before he went in and conquered in the Lord.