OUTNUMBERED

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. —2 Chronicles 32:7, 8

In many of the Bible’s stories, God’s people seem to be outnumbered. While God loves all people, it seems He prefers to identify with the underdog, the outsiders, the “least of these,” the poor, and the outnumbered. He has a special interest in those who need special attention, at least partly because they recognize their urgent need for help.

This should comfort us at those times when we find ourselves outnumbered, particularly when standing with God and for His truth. Feeling outnumbered does not indicate a lack of faithfulness. This threat from the Assyrians came “after all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done” (2 Chronicles 32:1), including the ways in which he had “sought his God and worked wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 31:21). But how we respond to the feeling of being outnumbered is a reflection of our faith. When we make our stand with God, as Hezekiah urged the people to do, we are never truly outnumbered. From reading many of the Bible stories, it could be argued that it is precisely when we feel outnumbered that God is especially ready to stand with us. Because of the time Hezekiah had spent working faithfully with God and His purposes, he was well-fitted to deliver this message of strong encouragement to the people of Judah.

Based on his confidence in God, he spoke with the kind of experience and assurance that instilled confidence among the people.