No, there was no bombing event on March 11, 2012. This
particular date is just so memorable to me.
“Do not be afraid
or discouraged because of this vast array, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
This is what is written in 2 Chronicles 20:15. This was what I read on
March 11, 2012 upon opening my devotional book very early in the morning.
This verse is about the story of King Jehoshaphat, one of
my favorite Bible characters, facing the Moabites and the Ammonites. 2
Chronicles chapter 20 begins the story, “the
Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on
Jehoshaphat.” Now this was trouble for King Jehoshaphat! A vast army was
coming to attack his people and territory! Do you know what he did? “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of
the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah (verse 3).” His immediate
response was to seek the Lord. He led the people to seek help from the Lord for
he knew that his forces could not withstand the army that was about to attack.
King Jehoshaphat prayed, and he ended his prayer with this statement, which is
one of my favorite Bible verses: “(O
Lord) We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (verse 12).”
This is a statement of total surrender and dependence on God. What happened
next? The Lord responded to their inquiry! The answer was: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of
this vast array, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (verse 15)… You will
not have to fight this battle… Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out
to face them (the enemies) tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you (verse 17).”
Wow, what a relieving response! If you were Jehoshphat, will you believe this?
Will you trust God? This wise and faith-filled king did. Early in the morning,
they marched to the place the Lord told them to go. Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to
praise him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out at the head of
the army (verse 21). And the ending was victory for King Jehoshaphat and
his people! How? Indeed, they did not have to fight! Literally! The enemies
destroyed one another! When the men of Judah arrived at the place where God led
them, they saw only dead bodies! Those were the remains of their enemies!
Truly, it was God’s battle. God promised. Jehoshaphat believed, trusted, and
obeyed. God did exactly what he promised. Jehoshaphat worshipped God. “…The battle is not yours, but God’s.”
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| from http://www.redshirtfridays.org/images/Touching_Emails/soldier_kneeling.jpg |
March 11, 2012 was the day scheduled for the Licensure
Examination for Teachers. That was the day I took the examination that I
believed would confirm my calling as a teacher. That day, I held on to the same
promise King Jehoshaphat held on to. I believed that taking the exam was not my
battle, but God’s. Even before I finally decided to take the exam, I knew God
was doing something far beyond my expectations and imagination. He had been
telling and reminding me of his promises. At first I felt afraid. Afraid to
take the exam because I was unprepared. But in December 2011, God gave me the
courage (and resources) to go to the PRC Office to apply to take the
examination on March 11, 2012. And the story did not end there.
