Victory By Ambushment

VICTORY BY AMBUSHMENT

In chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles we read the story of Jehoshaphat, and the people of Judah, and the threat that lead to Jehoshaphat proclaiming a fast in order to seek God for His assistance. Jehoshaphat had received word that a great multitude was approaching, and this caused him to become afraid. So afraid that the bible says he set himself in fasting to seek God in desperation for assistance. When they all gathered and stood before the Lord, the word of the Lord came through a man named Jahaziel as the spirit of God came upon him. The Lord had comforted the people by assuring them that He was with them and that they would need not fight the battle for He would fight for them.

‘You won’t even need to fight this battle! Just take your positions, Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, stand still, and watch how ADONAI will deliver you! Don’t be afraid or distressed; tomorrow, go out against them, for ADONAI is with you.’ – 2 Chronicles 20:17, CJB

God instructed the people to take up their positions, but also tells them that they wouldn’t need to fight. This instruction may not have seemed to make sense. Their positions meant their battle position, so they were to position themselves to fight, but not have to fight because God assures them that He would deliver them. Nevertheless, in obedience, Jehoshaphat lead the people the next day. As they went, he instructed the worshippers to go ahead and to praise and worship God. In those days, as instated by David, worshippers were part of the army and it was their job to sing praise to God at the forefront of battle. David understood that praising God was his greatest and most powerful weapon. Many of the Psalms were written for and sung during battle. Jehoshaphat therefore understood that the first part of taking your battle position meant to ensure the worshippers were in position to sing God’s praise on the battlefield.

‘After consulting with the people, he appointed those who would sing to ADONAI and praise the splendor of his holiness as they went out ahead of the army, saying, “Give thanks to ADONAI, for his grace continues forever.”’ – 2 Chronicles 10:21, CJB

The worshippers went before the army and we read in scripture that as soon as they began to sing and praise the Lord, God set ambushments in the camp of the enemy. When the rest of the army of Judah arrived, they found that their all enemies were already dead. This means that the battle was won before the soldiers even got there.  When they arrived all that was left to do was raid the enemies camp for riches and precious jewels.

In this passage the Hebrew name ADONAI is used for the name of God. Adonai is the plural form of Adon. Adon is used to refer to men, angels and the true God of Israel. Adonai, being the plural, is describing God as being Lord of Lords, as He is called in various scriptures. The title Lord of Lords is also given to Jesus in the new testament.

‘They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and those with Him and on His side are chosen and called [elected] and loyal and faithful followers.’ – Revelation 17:14, AMPC

The name of God, Adonai, used in this scripture is an indication of the way in which God achieves the victory for Judah and Jerusalem in this situation. When the Lord set ambushments amongst the enemies, they fought themselves and when the people of God reached close enough to see their enemies, all they saw were dead bodies.

The word ambushments comes from the word ambush, which is defined as a surprise attack by one lying in wait in a concealed position. God did not need the people to fight or defend themselves, because He used His own army, His warring angels. From the definition, we can envision and understand the method God used in this battle.

Firstly, a surprise attack indicates that the enemy did not know what was coming and they were caught unaware. The enemies in this instance knew they were bigger and stronger than Judah and must have went after them with confidence, believing they would win. Another reason they would not have expected to lose was because the last time God’s people had the opportunity to destroy them, at God’s command, they did not.

‘Now, behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt (for they turned away from them and did not destroy them), here they are, rewarding us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.’ – 2 Chronicles 20:11-11, AMP

Not only did these tribes go after God’s people, but they did so after they were once spared by these very people. Even in life, the last person we expect to attack us is someone we once spared or helped, yet it is often the reality we have to face. Being rewarded evil for kindness by people is a difficult and painful experience, but God’s plan for those who are called by His name always one of justice. Not only did they once spare their enemies, but they did so in obedience to God. We read that when Jehoshaphat presented his case before the Lord, he explained that they were obedient to His word before yet it seemed that their obedience didn’t work. It seemed that even after doing good, the same people they were good to, went after them, to take the very thing that God promised was their inheritance.

The fact that the people of God had once spared them and did not attack them before, would have sent the message to the Ammonites and Moabites that Israel did not think they could win against them. And it was a fact the Israel’s army was much smaller than the army of these tribes. It was a surprise attack as not only did they not expect God’s people to fight, they did not expect to lose and be defeated. It was also a surprise because they had no idea that God’s own army of angels would cause the fight between them.

Secondly, the definition says that the attackers were lying in wait. This requires great consideration, because if God’s army was already with the enemy, waiting, they were waiting for an appointed time to attack. The bible states that the ambushments were set when the people of God began singing and praising. God is not confined to time, as He lives outside it. This means that He could have acted at any time, but He waited until the people were in the correct position, as He instructed them. Often, we pray and seek God’s help on a matter, and keep praying and waiting for God to move or speak the word and effect a miracle on our behalf. The reality is that often times, it is God who is waiting for us. Waiting for us to do what He instructed. Even if the instruction makes no sense, God always instructs us to do something that He knows we can do. This is important to remember when it seems that God is not moving or acting, because it may be that He is waiting for us to do what He told us to do. God had already set His army in position, unbeknown to the enemy, long before the people of Judah went out.

‘I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!’ – Isaiah 65:34, NLT

Thirdly, God’s army was in a concealed position, meaning they were hiding. Even today, God does some of His best work behind the scenes, and while we cry over our difficult reality, we have no idea what God is doing that we cannot see. One of His marvelous characteristics is His ability and tendency to hide something until the appointed time. Just because we cannot see His army or see what He is doing, we are to trust Him and His word concerning us. Truth be told, it would amaze us to know all that God has hidden for us and in us, perhaps we may not even be able to handle all that God has for us before the appointed time.

‘It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.’ – Proverbs 25:2, KJV

When Jehoshaphat returned with the people to Jerusalem, they praised God. The Bible says that all the kingdoms feared because they heard that God fought against the enemies of Israel. In the same way, when God does the work He promised to do, He does it with such excellence and wonder that it causes even future enemies to think twice before attacking God’s chosen people. God always wins every battle for His children in such a way as to glorify Himself. It is not even because we deserve God’s help for all the good we’ve done and none of our sins make God turn His back on us or leave us. He fulfills His promise to us and concerning us, for His own sake.

We see in this story, that even though the enemy went after God’s people to take their promise, it was God’s plan for the people not just to protect what they had but also to acquire all the wealth of their enemies. He may have stopped them from fighting before, but His way involved a much greater victory, and we see a demonstration of the scripture in this story.

‘For to the man who is good from [God’s] viewpoint he gives wisdom, knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of collecting and accumulating things to leave to him who is good from God’s viewpoint. This too is pointless and feeding on wind.’ – Ecclesiastes 2:26, CJB

Moreover, God’s divine version of justice was not just to fight for His people and effect a transfer of wealth from the wicked to the righteous, but also to make them so victorious that they would ultimately find rest in Him. We read that Jehoshaphat’s reign was peaceful, and from then onwards he rested, not just in this battle but in everything. A great reward for Jehoshophat’s obedience to God’s instruction, and the fact that Jehoshophat sought God with fasting and prayer to know His will instead of acting on his own.

‘So Y’hoshafat’s rule was a quiet one, because his God gave him rest all around.’ – 2 Chronicles 20:30, CJB