2 Chronicles 13:1-14:1
Q.1. What gave Abijah confidence as he faced off against a much larger army? What was the difference in the way that Jeroboam had treated the Lord from Judah? – (2 Chron.13:1-12)
The armies of Israel and Judah were immense. They totalled the population of the Adelaide metropolitan area. There were regular seasons when the nations went to war (2 Sam.11:1) Israel had double the number of soldiers that Judah had. Therefore, why would Judah’s King Abijah incite the armies of Jeroboam? While Jeroboam plotted the defeat of Judah by setting up an ambush (2 Chr.20:13-14), Abijah addressed his troops to express his confidence in God’s support for his godly cause. The Covenantal promises supported David’s line. These people had remained true to God, as Judah had been careful to do – But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the Lord as priests, and the Levites attend to their work (2 Chr.13:10 c.f. 13:5 & 11). How differently Jeroboam had led Israel. He had instituted the vile worship of golden calves and set up his own festivals and priesthood (2 Chr.13:8 c.f. 2 Chr.13:9; 2 Chr.11:14-17).
Q.2. What advantage did Jeroboam’s army have over Abijah’s? How did Judah gain the upper hand in their battle against Israel? – (2 Chron.13:13-19)
Jeroboam’s battle plans seemed superior to Abijah’s from a human perspective. However, Abijah had factored God into the equation. His small army gained huge inspiration from knowing that they had God’s support and blessing – 14 When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both front and rear; so they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah (2 Chr.13:14-15). With God, we will always have a majority.
Q.3. What kind of a man was Abijah? What was the outcome for Jeroboam and Abijah? – (2 Chron.13:20-22 & 14:1 c.f. 1 Kgs.15:1-7)
We discover from 1 Kgs.15:1-7 that this incident was an isolated event. Abijah perpetuated the sins of his father Rehoboam – and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, like the heart of his (fore)father David (1 Kgs.15:3). God kept blessing Judah on account of His promises to David, and with intent of the establishment of Jerusalem (1 Kgs.15:5). Nevertheless, we should take nothing away from this incident in Abijah’s life when he did faithfully obey the Scriptures (Dt.20:1-4). Jeroboam never recovered from this battle, and the Lord struck him down. Abijah was able to strengthen his kingdom and was blessed with a large family.