Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

This is a classic “pep talk” from the Old Testament. That is sort of a dismissive description, but it rings with some generations of Americans today.

The enemy—a real enemy that desires to kill me, my family, and my culture, not just one of those “enemies” in the culture or other wars we imagine today—is coming. The enemy has the numbers, the technology, and all the other advantages that gives them…well, they are going to win. They are going to kill us all and take anything they want.

The enemy, however, only has human strength; we have God.

Let’s stand back and cheer at the big picture. This is correct. We have God on our side. In the eternal scheme, we triumph through God.

Let’s close in and wince at the small picture. The enemy has it all and will do whatever they want if God allows it. God, in his big-picture perspective, may allow the expected.

Yikes. Come on God, give me a break. Don’t let Alzheimer’s, cancer, or cataracts ruin my temporary time here on earth. Do what you did here in this chapter of the Chronicles. Please. Pretty Please.

I am not God. Some days that is more difficult to admit than others. And that is why I pray daily, please help me in my unbelief.