October, 1939
T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
S78
Is the Lord s
By W ILL IAM HAZER WRIGHTON Athens, Georgia
Illustration by Ransom D\ Marvin
• The author of the article on this page is Head of the Department of Philosophy at thé University of Geor gia, Athens, Ga.
God to help him. God says, in effect, “You are helping Me.” He had been begging God to undertake for him, and God’■'says virtually, “I want you to co operate with Me. The battle is Mine. The work is not yours first, but Mine first, then yours,” The same situation was found in the life of Joshua. Joshua felt the burden of a great undertaking. He was mak ing his way to Jericho filled' with ap prehension of the greatness of his task, and perhaps feeling that the whole bur den was upon him, when he was met by One who had a drawn sword in His hand (Josh. 5:13). And Joshua,,feeling his' need and anxious . to enlist every helper in the work he was entering upon, said, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” And. half rebukingly the One whom he addressed said, “Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” Joshua was saying in ef fect, “Are you on my side?” And he is told in reality, “No, hut you, Joshua, are on My side. I am conducting this campaign, and you are a subordinate officer. Nay, but. as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. This is not your battle* Joshua; it is not your host; it iS: the Lord’s.” And Joshua fell into rank and sought the Captain’s com mands: “What saith my lord unto his servant?” The Doer of the Work We need to hear this message. When the work seems great and the difficul ties vast apd the foes many, we are apt
He was perplexed and bewildered. He s a i d , “Neither know wé what to do.” It was a time of extremity. Jehosha phat was at “wits’ end.”
■ E NOT afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but messenger to King Jehoshaphat of Judah. How many helpful lessons can be learned from the Old Testament! They are lessons applicable to our own im mediate lives and circumstances. This fact is illustrated in the story of Jeho shaphat and his troubles. . Jehoshaphat had not attacked the enemy nations that were approaching Jerusalem. The Ammonites and Moab ites were people that God would not allow Jehoshaphat to invade. And now they were returning this kindness by coming out against the people of Judah. It was a war forced upon Jehoshaphat by people that were given up to mili tarism. The Bearer o f Responsibility Jehoshaphat realized his unprepared ness and his weakness. He was filled with fear as he saw how hopelessly out numbered he was, how well organized was the foe, how poorly organized were his own armies. Jehoshaphat had no definite policy. No plan of campaign had been drawn up.
In his perplexity and bewilderment he did the only wise thing—-he looked unto the Lord. It would be good for us to . be brought to the end of Our own wisdom if through it we were made to look to Him who says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and up- braideth not.” If we have great prob lems, tremendous difficulties, perplexing situations, let us say with Jehoshaphat, “We have no might against this great company . . .; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” It is good for us to realize the words of Christ, “Apart from me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5, R. V.) so that we may have the joy of knowing that His strength is made perfect in our weak ness. The reply in Jehoshaphat’s extremity was not long delayed. Almost before the prayer was over, the answer came. Upon a Levite named Jahaziel came the Spirit of the Lord, and he said unto Jehoshaphat and all Jjidah, “Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great mul titude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” * This was a startling announcement for Jehoshaphat. He had been asking
God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15), said the Lord’s
m. .When the work seems great and the difficulties vast and the foes many, we are apt to think we are more interested in God’s work than God is!
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