For Gary Brady, this account is a ‘hidden gem’, teaching us how to conduct ourselves in our own warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil.

Summary:

1. We may seem to be outnumbered, but are not

Whatever we make of the large numbers in this chapter, it is clear that Abijah faced an army twice the size of his own.

But ‘one plus God’ is a majority.

The odds against Christians may seem overwhelming.  But ‘the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ (1 Jn 4:4).

2. In the heat of battle, don’t forget that God is with those who believe

Abijah stood on a mountain and called out the moral bankruptcy of his opponents.  They had replaced true worship of the Lord with thoroughgoing paganism.  Abijah and his people, on the other hand, had continued to be faithful to the Lord’s requirements.  He reminded them of God’s promise to honour David and his descendants.

It is perilous to resist the will of God.  When God is with us, as our leader (v12) victory is assured.

Who and what are the enemies of Christians?  They, too, are rebels and usurpers.  Those who are on God’s side are ‘more than conquerors’ (although we note Bob Dylan’s famous warning not to assume that too glibly).

3. When you seem to be out outmanoeuvred, cry out to the Lord

Things seem to go very wrong for Abijah, when Jeroboam operates a ‘pincer movement’.

In the face of this threatening tactic, Abijah’s people cried out to the Lord.  The priests blew their trumpets, and the army shouted.  God routed the enemy, with over half of Jeroboam’s troops perishing.

We may feel surrounded by our enemies on all sides.  But to the godly person there is always a ladder of access to the throne of God.

4. Victory comes through relying on the Lord

Jeroboam’s fate show the futility of resisting God.  Abijah, on the other hand, relied on the Lord, and flourished.

We need to learn to rely on God sooner, not later:

‘There is a story from the days when the north of England was full of cotton mills. In one mill, there was a sign saying, ‘When your thread becomes tangled, call the foreman.’ A young woman new to the job tangled her thread. She thought to herself, ‘I’ll just straighten this out myself.’ She tried, but failed, and so eventually she called the foreman. ‘I did the best I could,’ she said. ‘You didn’t,’ the foreman said. ‘To do the best, you should have called me.’ We must learn to rely on God.’

Americans have, of course, a Declaration of Independence. But Christians should subscribe to a declaration of dependence.  For without Jesus we can do nothing (Jn 15:5).

2 Corinthians 2:14 — ‘Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.’