The words “we don’t know what to do” sound like words of defeat and confusion. But, like most things, context is important. These words in context are words of faith and trust. They are words that reflect humility and reality.
You see, almost 3,000 years ago, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah was faced with annihilation by a strong enemy coming up from the south. The intent of this enemy was the destruction of his kingdom. Jehoshaphat knew that there was no way the army of Judah would defeat this enemy. He knew that he had only one option, God.
So he gathered the people together and then prayed for God’s help. He didn’t have a plan, because there was no plan for his dire situation. He didn’t cower and give up. He didn’t rant against God. He didn’t assume that a particular outcome was inevitable. He simply stood in front of his people and told his God that he didn’t know what to do. Amazing! He didn’t act in a way that was politically correct. He didn’t follow the conventional wisdom. He didn’t act as if the show must go.
Then, after saying that they did not know what to do, Jehoshaphat said something else. He said, “our eyes are upon you”. That was it, end of prayer. Do you have the faith to simply state that your eyes look to God when there appears to be no way out? As you know the story ends well for Jehoshaphat and Judah. But at the moment when he ended his prayer, Jehoshaphat did not know how things would end. He just knew that his eyes, his faith, his hope, his trust must rest upon God.
This is what the message of the Christmas season is all about. Your eyes must be upon Christ the King. We have hope because of who Christ is, not the state of our circumstances. After Jehoshaphat finished he stood in front of all Judah – the men, their wives, their children and their little ones. They all stood before the Lord.
Then, the word of the Lord came to Jahaziel, a Levite. This is what he said:
“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:13
Jehoshaphat was like me, he didn’t always get things right. Sometimes, he was downright stupid! But, here, in this situation, he turned his eyes and the eyes of his people to God. The battle is the Lord’s! Christ has won the victory. The mighty King came to earth as a baby. The battle was joined that night in Bethlehem.
Turn your eyes to Christ and not on the stuff and the mess of the world. The battle is the Lord’s!