Thursday – Small Army, Big Victory
READ: Joshua 11:3-10; 2 Kings 6:16-17
SOAP: 2 Kings 6:16
For further reading – Joshua 11:1-2; 11-23
“He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”– 2 Kings 6:16
As Joshua and the Israelites continued to conquer the land, their fame grew. All the kings were afraid of them after hearing how they won battle after battle. They seemed like an unstoppable force.
In chapter 11 we see a big reunion of kings and armies that joined their forces in order to defeat the Israelites. Verse 4 says that they were like a horde. Their number was so big that they looked like the sand on the seashore. They were intimidating! Once again, the Lord spoke to Joshua – “Don´t be afraid, I will give them to you.” No matter how powerful or numerous an army can be, the victory is ours when God is fighting with us.
The verses in 2 Kings tell the story about Elisha´s servant. He was afraid of the army in front of him – not only because of the enormity of horses and chariots he saw – but because of the heavenly army in the back, ready to fight for him, that he couldn´t see.
Sometimes we fix our eyes on our enemies instead of focusing on our God. Elisha was able to see the invisible spiritual protection from God, and he prayed that God would open his servant´s eyes so he could see that protection, too. God didn´t change the situation. The enemy was still at the door – but He changed their perspective. Joshua´s army was smaller in number, but stronger in power because the God of the universe was protecting them.
Lord, open my eyes. Open my eyes to Your divine protection so that I can see the help that comes from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.