? We don’t know what to do; But are our eyes on you?
Sitting in my coronavirus-infested apartment in China, I can’t think of a better prayer than that of a desperate but confident king of Judea named Josaphat (2Cr 20. 12).
- The eyes of an anxious world are in this global health crisis.
- China’s businesses and schools are delaying their activities.
- Borders are closing.
- And in recent days.
- Many airlines have suspended all trips to and from this great country.
- As an American who is a shepherd in China.
- My decision to stay seems to me to be a clear “burning ship” situation!.
Our prayer? We don’t know what to do; But are our eyes on you, Sir?
This old perspective of Jehoshaphat is more appropriate by February 2020 than we think. In context, a dangerous delegation of Edom approached Judah, but his faith was global. He did not trust in the Lord only in the face of potential military defeat, but for any disaster that might occur!
If any evil, sword for punishment, plague, or hunger happens to us, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house; and we will cry out to you in our anguish, and you will listen to us and deliver us. ?(2 Cr 20. 9, emphasis added)
Jehoshaphat was willing to trust, whatever the danger, even in the face of plague or plague, he cried out to God.
And given the current threat of pandemic, we must learn to do the same. Here are five aspects, Jehoshaphat’s trust in God, that can help us today.
“Was Jehoshaphat afraid and began to seek the Lord?(2Cr 20. 3). It wasn’t superhuman, it was normal, the first step for those who trust in God’s help?Those days when ours must admit their weakness. It could be a good remedy now to come before the Lord and tell him honestly how you are. I’m scared. I’m frustrated. I am hungry. I’m alone. I’m hurt. I’m exhausted.
The purpose of exposing our pain is not to point the finger at God’s accusation; But be honest, trust Him, even our deepest concerns. Josaphat chooses to trust in the Lord, to whom we too are called. Trust is always a choice. And that’s what we’re going to have to do several times.
After Jehoshaphat sought God, he proclaims a national fast: ??and proclaims fasting throughout Judah and gathers together to ask for the Lord’s help; People also came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord (2Cr 20. 3. 4). The king knows where true help comes from and leads others to go there in search of hope.
When all around us go mad and our neighbors fear that heaven will fall, we must remember that we serve a loving, merciful, and sovereign God to which plague or virus cannot reach (Salt 91).
As we address our anxieties to the Lord in prayer, we can experience a peace that surpasses understanding (Fil. 4. 6-7). And when we live such peace, the countercultural — and often counterintuitive — hope we have in Christ (1P 3:15) is revealed. After all, our faith is personal, but not private.
Jehoshaphat offers a prayer pattern in verses 5-12. It appeals to God’s character, promises, and past actions. The prayer then culminates: “For we have no strength to resist this great crowd that comes against us, and I do not know what to do, but are our eyes set on you?
You may feel this way in the light of the coronavirus, you may feel powerless in the face of a virus that you may be exposed to, even in the absence of visible symptoms, your anxiety may be increasing because experts are still not sure how much this virus can be transmitted. You may feel discouraged as the number of infections and deaths increases. In this case, join Josaphat in declaring that he has no power, but that his hope is placed on the Almighty God.
How many of our prayers should end with a phrase like that?This is the attitude of the Christian. Invoke God’s character, confess your incapacity, and look to the Lord.
In the account of 2 Chronicles, God responds by sending a prophet to remind Judah that the battle is not theirs; Is of God (20. 15). They don’t even have to fight; they can simply sit down and see the Lord’s salvation on their behalf (20:17).
This story is a small example, of a larger spiritual battle, for all at all times. We have a deadly problem that we can’t do anything for ourselves (even if we try!). We must trust in another, for this battle does, although we trust in the one who can fight on our behalf, we are invited to sit down and see the Lord’s salvation.
The coronavirus could stabilize next week. Or it could get worse. My family can be saved from this epidemic or we can become a statistic. We always seek Dios. No’s salvation because he necessarily demonstrates his love for me by protecting me from sickness, but because he has already shown his love by sending Christ to die for us when we were still sinners, so that those who believe in him may not perish, but have eternal life (Rom 5:8; Jn 3:16).
I pray that this virus will be eradicated and my family will stay healthy, but God is good, no matter what they bring in the next few weeks. I wear a mask outside and often wash my hands, but my hope is not based on these efforts. I want a long life for myself and my family, but I also know that the purpose of life is not to escape physical death, it’s a crazy task. The goal is to be prepared for when physical death inevitably occurs, glorifying and appreciating God to this day.
Jehoshaphat trusted and guided others to trust in God, but notice the end: worshipping In 2 Chronicles 20:21, even before victory, the king led the people to praise: “After beginning to sing and praise, the Lord ambushed the sons of Ammon and Moab and those of Mount Seir who came against Judah, and were dissolved. . ? (2Cr 20. 22).
How is this final scene part of trust in God?Because if God is good and if we know that we can trust Him, we can worship Him even in the midst of suffering, we can congratulate Him, even under the threat of danger. even glorfie it when viruses spread.
God didn’t tell Jehoshaphat to do this. God did not instruct him to convene a service. Worship is not a strategy to make God act; it’s an answer because we know he’s acted and will continue to act. This is how we should seek the Lord.
The Jews leave the next day and the threat is gone. I’m not saying that God will miraculously solve all your problems if you start worshipping. But I’m saying that your biggest problem, the problem of disbelief, will be solved if you start worshipping. Worship.
In the face of coronavirus, may Christians in China and the world have unwavering confidence in the Lord, even when we do not know what will come next.