Conflict Strategy

Every one us experiences difficulties, trials, crises. Things can and do go wrong, and we need to muddle through somehow. So what do we do? Well, hopefully, we strategize. We buy insurance, install anti-virus apps, hire police, you know, all the methods we use to circumvent problems. And all of that is fine. Then we face an event and try to figure out the best way forward. Fine and good ... except, is it ... best?

In the Bible, God warned against a common concept.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek YHWH! (Isa 31:1)

The problem wasn't seeking help. The problem was relying on human methods rather than ... seeking the Lord. I love that story in 2 Chronicles about Judah's King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20:1-30). He was told a vast army was marching on them, and Jehoshaphat sent for aid from surrounding allies. Oh, no, he didn't. It says, "Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek YHWH, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (2 Chron 20:3). This terrified king sought God and urged his people to do the same. He didn't think up some carefully planned strategy; he turned to God. The resulting story is really fun. God told him, "You need not fight in this battle ... tomorrow go out to face them, for YHWH is with you" (2 Chron 20:17). "The battle is not yours but God's" (2 Chron 20:15). So Jehoshaphat pulled out his play book and ... put the choir in front (2 Chron 20:21), and they watched God deliver Judah.

We're often facing battles alone. We often see our plans as sufficient and our resources as enough and fail to seek God. It's a sure way to fail. Our first strategy should be to seek the Lord, to rely on His wisdom and power and resources. If you aren't praying in times of crisis, you're really missing out. We should be marked as a people of prayer.