2 Chronicles 20:1–2 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi).    

5–6 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?

9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 

13–15 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! 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.

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.

King Jehoshaphat was a wealthy and God-fearing king who had a large army, yet he suddenly faced an overwhelming situation as three enemy nations came against him. Humanly speaking, he had the resources to fight, but instead of immediately assembling his army, Jehoshaphat turned to God. He humbled himself, called the people together, and sought the Lord.

God’s answer was clear: “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” The people were instructed to stand firm and watch what God would do. As they obeyed, God caused the enemies to turn against one another until not one remained. There was such an abundance of spoil that Jehoshaphat and his people could not gather it all.

This account contains an important lesson for every believer. We too are in a battle—a spiritual battle between good and evil. Scripture reminds us that our struggle is not merely against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers and forces of darkness. The devil seeks opportunities to destroy lives, families and faith. We therefore need to recognise that the battle belongs to God and that we cannot fight it successfully in our own strength or according to our own ideas.

Jehoshaphat’s response is significant. He sought God sincerely, acknowledged His greatness, admitted his own weakness and remembered God’s faithfulness. When things are going wrong in our lives, this is a good place to begin: to come before God and ask, “Is there anything in my life that does not please You?” We cannot expect God to fight our battles while deliberately holding on to sin. Unforgiveness, grudges, pride and disobedience will hinder us from being used by God.

The sermon also emphasised the importance of waiting for God’s instruction. There are times when God tells us to act, and there are times when He tells us to stand still, pray and wait. We must not interfere simply because we think we know what should be done. Even something that appears good can be wrong if it is not done according to God’s will.

This principle applies particularly within the family and in God’s work. Parents need to recognise that their children also belong to God. What we say and do at home can either draw them towards God’s work or make them vulnerable to the enemy. Constant criticism, complaining and speaking negatively about God’s work can influence children in ways we may not realise. We need to ask God how He wants us to speak and act, rather than simply reacting according to our emotions.

The example of man’s attempt to steady the ark  as it was being carried to Jerusalem also illustrates this truth. The man’s intention may have appeared good, but he acted contrary to God’s instructions. Good intentions are not enough. We can be sincere and still be sincerely wrong. What matters is whether we are doing God’s will in God’s way.

The same principle applies when giving advice or helping others. We can easily give our own opinions while believing that we are speaking for God. There is a great danger in confusing our thoughts with God’s Word. We need to remain humble enough to ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

The life and ministry of Rev. Erlo Stegen was also mentioned as an example of learning to do God’s work in God’s way. He testified that for many years he had spread the Gospel according to how he thought it should be done. Eventually, he came to the deeper understanding that God’s work must be done according to God’s will. Although he had been entrusted with great responsibility, he did not regard the work as his own. He sought counsel, prayed and asked others to pray with him so that God’s will would be done.

This is the challenge before every Christian: Is my life God’s work, or have I made it my own? In our marriage, family, workplace, church and every other area of life, we need to recognise that the battle belongs to God. Our responsibility is to remain obedient, to listen to Him, and to do what He instructs—even when we do not understand it.

When we stand in the place God has appointed for us and obey His Word, we can leave the battle in His hands. Jehoshaphat and his people discovered that when God fights the battle, the result is far greater than anything they could have achieved in their own strength. May we likewise learn to trust God, wait upon Him and do His work His way.