2 Chronicles 13:1-22

There is a clear contrast between the two tribes of Judah and the ten tribes of Israel.  Their leadership is different and their relationship with the Lord is different.  The divided nation was at war on a regular basis yet there seems to be no attempt or even desire to unite the two nations once again.  God had His purpose in the nation dividing; as is true on many occasions, He has multiple reasons for this division.  The division is a form of punishment for the pride and idolatry of Solomon and Rehoboam.  It is also a means of protecting the nation from the influence of Idolatry that seems to run so strong in the ten tribes.  God’s wisdom is astounding and profound; only He could protect and punish through the same course of events.  The clear contrast between these divisions is very evident in the war between Abijah, the king of Judah and Jeroboam, the king of Israel.

ABIJAH DENOUNCES ISRAEL’S IDOLATRY: The battle lines are clearly drawn between Israel and Judah.  The two armies are gathered on the battlefield preparing to go to war with one another.  Abijah places himself before the people and begins to denounce the nation of Israel for their constant practice of idolatry.  He starts out by recounting the history of how Jeroboam had been an unfaithful servant to Solomon and then had to flee to Egypt.  He then claims that it was only in a moment of weakness that Rehoboam had allowed Jeroboam to come into power in the first place.  After calling Jeroboam and those who put him into power scoundrels, he then starts to demonstrate the spiritual contrasts between the two nations.  Judah continues to worship the Lord under the direction on the priests and Levites.  They make the regular sacrifices to the Lord and they live in fear of the Lord.  Abijah then denounces Israel by reminding them how they had removed the priests and Levites from the land and replaced them with idol worshipers who would make sacrifices to gold calves and goats.  Israel has abandoned God while Judah has remained true to the Lord.  Abijah is convinced that the Lord will now fight this battle on their behalf.  Obedience to the Lord creates a great amount of confidence.  It is far better to be in the obedient minority than the disobedient majority.


ABIJAH DEFEATS ISRAEL’S ARMY: From a logical point of view there is no way that Judah should have been able to stand against the army of Israel.  Israel had twice as many soldiers as Judah.  Israel also had a tactical advantage over Judah in that they had set an ambush behind them so that the army of Judah was isolated and being attacked on both sides.  However at the end of the battle Judah was victorious and over half of the army of Israel was struck down.  The only way to explain this amazing victory is the Lords provision.  When we walk with God and obey his Word in gives us the ability to be confident in any situation and be victorious in any circumstance.  We do not have any guarantees that we will always be victorious as the Lord is sovereign and He often uses defeat and difficult circumstances to make us more like Him.  Abijah is unfazed by the size of the army that is before him because He knows that God is on His side.  We must always keep our eyes fixed upon the Lord and trust Him at all times in our lives.  He is able to deliver us according to His will.  His power is far greater than anything that this world or the very powers of hell can muster.

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