At Your Wit's End (Part 1)

2 Chronicles 20:1, 2 "It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the seas, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is EnGedi)."

There are always “some” with a bad report. The Biblical record is filled with their gloomy proclamations:

-Moses received a bad report concerning the dangerous depths of the Red Sea which blocked Israel’s exodus from Egypt.   

-Messengers came to Nehemiah describing Jerusalem in ruins with its fortified walls collapsed in devastation.

-Naomi, a woman whose story is recorded in the book of Ruth, received a series of  bad reports: Her husband and both sons died.

-King David looked out over the plains and saw a messenger running with news from the battlefield. It was a devastating report that his son, Absalom, was dead.

-A righteous man named Job seemed to have a propensity for bad news.  He received word that his children were killed and  his servants and herds captured by the enemy.  Lucky man--he also had a wife who seemed to delight in emphasizing these negative reports (as if Job needed someone to tell him how bad things were). Her advice was to “curse God and die.”

-As Jarius hurried towards home bringing Jesus to his ailing daughter’s side,  his servant met him with the tragic news that the child was already dead.

There are always "some" with a bad report. In fact, there are usually “more” than “some” because we live in a negatively oriented world.  If you don’t believe it, observe what happens when you share an innovative idea.  The common response is for others to immediately point out why your plan won’t work.  This negative mind-set is tremendously evident on the evening television news where practically every report concerns crime, political wrangling, or societal crisis.  Even the weather report is negative. Why not say “80% chance of sunshine” instead of  “20% chance of rain”?

Have you ever received a bad report?

Did the doctor say your disease is terminal?  Are you being sued for divorce or battling for custody of your children? Are you facing financial ruin? Did the pediatrician tell you that your precious little baby will never be normal?

Perhaps you grew  up in a negative environment where you constantly heard “bad reports” from parents who declared,  “I’m sorry you were ever born!” or “You are so stupid,m or You will never amount to anything!” 

Your bad report may be a written document similar to the threatening letter received by  King Hezekiah in Old Testament times. Perhaps your “evil report” is in human form, someone who is doggedly pursuing you as Queen Jezebel did the prophet Elijah.

Whatever the form of your “bad report,” whoever the source, and regardless of its message, this chapter is your answer. You will learn what to do when you don’t know what to do, using Biblical guidelines drawn from the story of King Jehoshaphat’s battle with enemy forces recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. That knowledge will give guidance in the time of turmoil and stress you may be going thru. Don't give up-HOLD ON!