Topic: After the Victory Comes the Blessing [RICK WARREN Devotional 16 March 2020]
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“Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory.”
2 Chronicles 20:27 (NLT)At the end of 2 Chronicles 20, there’s a dramatic scene: God has just caused Israel’s enemies to turn against each other. While Israel’s army just stood back and watched, their enemies destroyed each other. The aftermath was devastating.
“So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24 NLT).
Sometimes life is like this, isn’t it? You have a seemingly insurmountable problem. You face your enemy and trust God to fight for you. Then you stand unarmed and watch as he wins the victory. But the cost of battle is evident. There are casualties, and things look pretty messy.
But God wants to help you find blessing in the bad. There are things left on the battlefield that God wants to give you. That’s what happened for Israel’s army.
“King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!” (2 Chronicles 20:25 NLT)
Throughout this story, God’s people chose to worship him rather than worry. They allowed God to solve their problems rather than fighting the battle themselves. The ultimate result was more blessing than they could handle.
“On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today. Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory” (2 Chronicles 20:26-27 NLT).
Israel had trusted God to win the battle for them. And he did, but he also exceeded their expectations. The battle was won, and they went home richer. God blessed them physically and spiritually.
What battle are you in the middle of today? Are you a single parent wondering how to make ends meet? Are you facing a problem at work or school? Does it feel like everything in your life is just too much?
If you’re fighting an overwhelming battle today, God wants to move you to the valley of blessing. That happens when you choose to worship instead of worry.
- What blessings have you seen God bring out of a hard time in your life in the past?
- What difference does it make when you face a battle with the expectation that God will not just win it for you but also bless you?
- What battle is God fighting for you today? Ask him to help you find the blessings, even in times that look ugly and hard.