06.04.2015 Old Testament: 2Ch 13.16–20

To read the Bible in a year, read Second Chronicles 13–16 on June 4, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

King Abijah and Judah faced a formidable enemy, their own brethren from the North, the Kingdom of Israel with 800,000 men, but Judah only had 400,000 men. Yet, watch what happened and why,

And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. Then Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Israel fell slain. Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers. And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages. So Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah; and the Lord struck him, and he died (2 Chronicles 13.16–20). 

Did you see what that second sentenced showed? Judah, with the help of God, struck down 500,000 warriors of Israel! 500,000! In one battle! Israel outnumbered Judah two-to-one, and in hand to hand combat, that is a significant advantage of Israel’s. However, King Abijah and Judah relied on the Lord and 500,000 men mean nothing to Him!