2 Chronicles 32:7-8
“Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (NASB)
Hezekiah, sensing the people’s fear of Assyria knocking on their border, said to them, “Be strong and courageous.” Easier said than done. The king even reminded them that the enemy had a vast army. Choose your words carefully, Hezekiah. Did you have to say they had a vast army?
This verse reveals a powerful truth about who has the greater power: But Hezekiah wisely asked the people to consider this thought: who had the greater power on their side? The king of Assyria had an arm of flesh. Mildly impressive and maybe a bit frightening if there was a sword in that hand.
But the Israelites had God, whose arms can’t be lopped off with a well-placed sword. God, who could not tire and doesn’t need sleep. God, who could see everything and know every weakness. God, who fought for them before and would certainly fight for them again.
This representation of God inspired confidence in the people. It’s not a physical battle. It’s a spiritual battle. And if that’s the case, God always wins. So be strong and courageous because God is on your side.
The contrast is stark: an arm of flesh versus the Lord our God. Human strength versus divine power. A vast army versus the God who doesn’t tire, doesn’t sleep, sees everything, and has never lost a battle. When you put it that way, the choice becomes obvious—but fear often clouds our ability to see clearly.
When you face overwhelming opposition—whether it’s a vast problem, a powerful enemy, or a situation that seems impossible—ask yourself Hezekiah’s question: who has the greater power on your side? Stop focusing on the size of the enemy’s army and start focusing on the power of your God.
Remember that you’re not fighting a physical battle but a spiritual one. The challenges you see with your eyes are temporary and limited. But the God on your side is eternal and unlimited. He can’t be defeated, He doesn’t tire, He sees everything, and He knows every weakness of your enemy.
Draw confidence from God’s past faithfulness. He fought for the Israelites before and He fought for them again. He’s fought for you before, and He’ll fight for you again. Your current battle isn’t the first one God has faced, and it won’t surprise Him or overwhelm Him.
Be strong and courageous—not because you’re strong, but because God is on your side. The enemy may have an impressive army, but you have the Lord your God to help you and fight your battles. That’s not just a nice saying—it’s the decisive factor that guarantees victory in every spiritual battle.
Lord God, thank You for the reminder that the one with me is greater than the one against me. Thank You that I don’t face my battles alone—You are on my side to help me and fight for me. Right now I’m facing [name your specific opposition]. It feels like a vast army, overwhelming and frightening.
But help me to ask the right question: who has the greater power on my side? The enemy may have an arm of flesh—impressive and frightening with a sword in hand—but I have You. Your arms can’t be lopped off with a well-placed sword. You never tire and don’t need sleep. You see everything and know every weakness of my enemy. You fought for Your people before and You’ll certainly fight for me again.
This representation of You inspires confidence in me. This is not a physical battle—it’s a spiritual battle. And if that’s the case, You always win. Help me to be strong and courageous, not because of my own strength but because You are on my side.
Let me rely on Your words, trusting that with You I cannot lose. Fight this battle for me. Show Your power. Defeat the enemy that seems so vast. I place my confidence in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.