It is nothing for you Lord

And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said,"LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" – 2 Chronicles 14v11

A million man army from Ethiopia. Think of that. An army of one million men had moved from Africa with its eyes on the little nation of Judah. Judah could not depend on their Jewish brothers from Israel. They seemed to be constantly at war with each other. If you were in King Asa’s sandals how would you respond to their approach? What would you do?

Clearly there was nothing Judah’s army could do nothing to protect themselves from this onslaught. Surely they were doomed.

But Asa knew something we too often forget. When he prayed before the battle he said ‘Lord, it is nothing for you to help. It makes no difference whether you use a mighty army or someone with no power.’ Then he simply asked the Lord to help them.

I have been a little discouraged lately. The size of our little local assembly just seems to be staying the same. We have lost a couple of active families lately. Though I should have learned the lesson a long time ago, I still find myself battling discouragement at times like this.

But God knows my weakness and frailty. Every time I get like this God seems to intervene. Here He reminds me that God is able to do His work no matter what our numbers. It is the same thing Jonathan said to his armour bearer. It is the same thing Paul wrote about the weak, base, and foolish things confounding the mighty.

If God can deliver Judah from one million Ethiopian soldiers chances are that He can do the work through our little fellowship.