Crisis Management
2 Chr 20:1-22
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).
3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard
6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,
9 ’If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.
11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 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.
16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’"
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
ONE DAY LINUS AND CHARLIE BROWN are waoking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, “I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can’t be run away from!”
Well, that’s not a healthy or smart way to cope with difficulty, is it. One thing is certain. King Jehoshaphat had no where to run even if he wanted to, which I doubt he did.
Jehoshaphat found himself in a crisis situation. In his case it was from his enemies. They wanted to wipe out the king and all the inhabitants of Judah. So it was a crisis of war–a threat from a powerful enemy.
Crisis comes in many forms.
❏ health
❏ finances
❏ relationships
❏ employment
Let’s face it, we’re all human and initially, when crisis comes, fear strikes our heart.
5 year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go alone. "It’s dark in there and I’m scared." She asked again and he persisted. Finally she said, "It’s OK-Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said, "Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup."That’s normal. But for a Christian, it is not normal for that fear to paralyze us.
Like Jehoshaphat, we too have our enemies. Satan comes against us. He wants to destroy our faith or at least render us spiritually ineffective.
According to verse 1 and 2, a vast army of 3 nations from the east of Jordan are approaching Jerusalem. Its not a pretty picture.
What I would like to do is look carefully at how Jehoshaphat dealt with this situation.
How do most people in general handle crisis?
1. Some cover up
2. Some give up
3. Some deny they have a problem
4. Some panic
5. Some fall apart completely
Its not the crisis that destroys us. Its what we do or don’t do that defines what kind of person we are inside.
JEHOSHAPHAT’S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS (V. 3)
❏ Alarmed–does not live in denial; does not panic
❏ Resolves to inquire of the Lord
❏ Proclaims a fast–notice how the people of Judah respond to this.
They came from every town to seek the Lord. This was a national revival! All because the leader set the tone.
❏ Offers a public prayer (v.6-17)–one of the greatest prayers in the Bible.
Where? Courtyard of the Temple
In front of all Israel
Ruler over all (v.6)
All powerful (v.6)
Mighty Acts (v.7-9)
-drove out the pagans
- gave land to Israel forever
- reminded God of His instructions
and promised deliverance
KEY VERSE: 12
“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
Haven’t you often felt like this? Jeanine and I have. Illustration: Our Call to Kalamazoo.
Psalm 34:5: “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 123:1: “I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.”
Psalm 105:4: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
Ps 121:1-2
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Do you remember the story of Elisha’s servant as recorded in II Kings 6? His eyes were opened to see the armies of heaven.
GOD ANSWERS THROUGH JAHAZIEL (V.14-17)
❏ “Don’t be afraid or discouraged.”
❏ “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”
❏ “March against your enemies tomorrow.”
❏ “Take up your positions.”
❏ “Stand firm.”
❏ “Watch and see how the Lord will deliver you.”
A similar statement was made by Moses at the Red Sea. In Exodus 14.
❏ “The Lord will be with you.”
PEOPLE’S RESPONSE (v.18,19)
❏ King first, then the people–fall on their faces in worship (Pastor’s Conference in Atlanta).
❏ Levites stood up and praised the Lord with a very loud voice!
ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM THE KING (20,21)
❏ Kind of a “pep-talk” or inspirational speech
❏ Have faith in the Lord. Mark 11:22: “Have faith in God.” Faith in His character. Faith in his ability. Faith in His willingness
❏ Have faith in His spokesmen
VICTORY (VS. 22)
❏ The choir led the way into battle. This is not man’s way, for sure. Music often gives courage to go on to victory.
❏ “As they began to sing and praise” the Lord set the ambush.
❏ The sang, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
❏ Great things happen to us when we realize our powerlessness.
Pastor Andrew Murray of South Africa once faced
a terrible crisis. Gathering himself into his study,
he sat a long while quietly. Prayerfully, thoughtfully.
He wrote this in his journal.
1. I am here by God’s appointment; in that fact I
will rest.
2. He will keep me here in His love and give me
grace to behave as His child.
3. H will teach me the lessons He intends me to
learn.
4. In His good time He can bring me out again.
Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful,
Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.
Source Unknown.
