Meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:11

This verse, spoken by King Jehoshaphat of Judah before the battle of the Wilderness of Tekoa, expresses a profound sense of injustice and a direct appeal to God concerning the enemy's motivations. The people of Judah are facing an overwhelming coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites who have come to conquer their land, a land that God Himself had promised and given to Israel as their inheritance. Jehoshaphat's statement highlights the audacity and insolence of the invaders, framing their aggression not merely as an attack on Judah, but as a direct affront to God's sovereign gift and covenant. It underscores the belief that the inheritance of the land was a divine prerogative, and those seeking to seize it were acting in defiance of God's will and decree.

Context and Background

The immediate context is the invasion described in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. A vast army from beyond the Dead Sea, comprised of Moab, Ammon, and Meunites, marched against Judah. This posed an existential threat to the kingdom, as their forces were significantly outnumbered. King Jehoshaphat, rather than relying on military might alone, turned to God in prayer and fasting. He assembled the people at the Temple in Jerusalem to seek divine intervention. This verse is part of his public prayer, articulating the core grievance: the enemy's objective is to dispossess them of what God has given them.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Ownership and Inheritance: The central theme is that the land of Israel is not merely a territorial possession but a divinely given inheritance. God's promise to Abraham and his descendants included the land as a foundational element of their covenant relationship.
• Injustice and Defiance: The invaders' actions are characterized as a direct act of injustice, seeking to steal what rightfully belongs to Judah by divine grant. Their motive is not a legitimate claim but a desire to drive out the rightful inheritors.
• Reliance on God: The verse implicitly points to God as the ultimate source of their security and possession. The appeal is made to Him who gave the inheritance, implying that He is also the one who can defend it.
• The Nature of the Enemy: The enemy is portrayed as acting out of pure aggression and covetousness, seeking to usurp God's decree through force.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse speaks to the believer's understanding of their blessings and spiritual inheritance in Christ. Just as the land was God's gift to Israel, believers have received an inheritance of salvation, righteousness, and eternal life through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:11, 14). When challenges arise, whether internal spiritual struggles or external pressures that threaten to diminish our faith or joy, we can identify with Jehoshaphat's plea. The enemy (Satan and his forces) seeks to "drive us out" of our spiritual inheritance by sowing doubt, fear, or discouragement. This verse reminds us that our spiritual possessions are divinely secured and that we can appeal to God against those who seek to rob us of them.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching narrative of God's covenant faithfulness and His people's struggle with external threats. The promise of land was a tangible manifestation of God's covenant with Israel, and its defense was often linked to their obedience. Throughout the Old Testament, the dispossession of the land through exile was a consequence of their disobedience, highlighting the importance of maintaining their covenant relationship with God. Conversely, victories like the one at the Wilderness of Tekoa affirmed God's power to restore and defend His people when they turned to Him.

Analogies

• A Landlord's Gift: Imagine a landlord who gifts a valuable property to a tenant. If a stranger then tries to forcibly evict the tenant, claiming the property as their own, the tenant would appeal to the landlord, stating, "See how they are repaying you by trying to drive me out of the property you gave me."
• A Father's Inheritance: A father leaves a significant inheritance to his children. If outsiders attempt to steal this inheritance from the children, the children would rightly protest, appealing to the father's will and their rightful claim.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 28:1-14: This passage outlines the blessings that would come upon Israel if they obeyed God, including prosperity and security in the land. The invasion in 2 Chronicles 20 represents a threat to these divinely ordained blessings.
• Psalm 105:8-11: This psalm recounts God's covenant faithfulness, including His promise of the land of Canaan as an everlasting inheritance. Jehoshaphat's prayer echoes this historical and theological foundation.
• Ephesians 1:11, 14: In the New Testament, believers are described as having "obtained an inheritance" in Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual inheritance is also a gift from God, and like the physical land for Israel, it is something to be protected and cherished.
• 1 Peter 1:3-4: Peter refers to believers as having been born again to a "living hope" and an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading." This highlights the enduring nature of our spiritual possessions, which no earthly enemy can truly steal.