To Boldly Go Series

Back in the 1960s, there was a ground-breaking show that premiered on NBC, and the opening monologue was spoken by Captain James T. Kirk every week: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before!”

When I was a kid I loved that. Every week I was glued to the TV as I watched the crew of the Starship Enterprise… and (of course) Captain Kirk, face seemingly overwhelming odds. And every week they triumphed over the evils of the Universe. They boldly went where no man had ever gone before!

They faced and conquered overwhelming odds because they had Captain Kirk. Kirk was a leader… a man of skill and guile who always maintained that he refused to believe in “no-win” scenarios.” And whatever challenge he faced each week he always did what had to be done to save his crew and ship. And – of course – to overcome evil with good.

In Star Trek, we’re told that when Kirk was in Starfleet academy he was required to take a test. It was a computer simulation – where he would be faced with a life and death scenario that was impossible to win. The enemy would surround the ship and, no matter what decision the captain made, 100s of people would die because it was impossible to win that battle.

But Kirk did win… because he cheated. He got INTO the computer and reprogramming it so that it would be possible to rescue his ship. And the theme of the show was that Captain Kirk did what he had to do to win because he refused to believe in the no-win scenario.

Now, that brings us to our text today: The King of Judah was a man named Jehoshaphat. According to II Chronicles 17 “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. II Chronicles 17:3-5

Well, that great wealth and honor soon got the attention of 3 nations from the East who decided they wanted that wealth for themselves, and they formed a huge army to attack Judah. They were NOW just about 25 miles away. And we know this was a bad situation because we’re told King “Jehoshaphat was afraid….” 2 Chronicles 20:3

He hadn’t counted on this. Judah was a couple days away from being conquered by an enemy that outnumbered and out-gunned them… and they had no chance of survival. It was a no-win scenario and King “Jehoshaphat… was afraid.

What was he to do? Should he have a council of war with his advisors? Should he muster a huge army (on short notice) to face the threat? OR should he just face the fact that he’s not going to win anyway and just… surrender?

Well, Jehoshaphat didn’t do any of that. What he did do was, he “set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD… and (prayed), ‘O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.… ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you — for your name is in this house — and cry out to you in our affliction, and YOU will hear and save.’”

REALLY?

He prayed, and he fasted? He didn’t examine his options first? He didn’t bring out his military? He didn’t make great plans on how to confront his enemy? He simply turned to God… and prayed and fasted. In fact, ALL of Judah prayed and fasted.

WHY? Because they knew the God who didn’t believe in No-Win Situations. They had a Captain (God) who would do what had to be done to save them.

And how did God respond? "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." II Chronicles 20:16-17