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Shouting for the Battle
“Aaauuuiiii… Uuuiiii…Aume nakuu, muyuke mboo nino!” This was a common cry in my native Kenya. It was a “911 call” from Kamba women and means, “Men! Wherever you are…here is a water buffalo in our village. Kamba women were not trained as warriors. They were not trained to use bows and arrows or spears.
Men were thoroughly trained in their youth on how to use traditional weapons to protect themselves, their families, their property and the community. This training equipped them with the tools they needed to overcome adversity from other tribes and fierce wild animals.
The womens’ cry, introduced me to the concept of total surrender. The women let men fight buffaloes that invaded the village. They didn’t try to learn how to fight the buffalo after sighting it. In their cry, they didn’t call other women to fight the buffalo, either. Scared and scurrying for cover, they cried out for the well-trained men to do their designated duty.
Since accepting Jesus Christ into my life, I have often wondered why we fight battles that are not ours. Spiritual battles fill our path. Those battles, like buffaloes, come from different directions and without warning. Like the Kamba women, we have one option that never fails… God. God has the tools and skills to fight our spiritual buffaloes. Our work is to call upon Him and let Him fight the battle.
King Jehoshaphat’s Biblical predicament well to the above analogy. A huge Syrian army was coming to fight him. The Bible says that he feared and set himself to seek the Lord. In his seeking, King Jehoshaphat observed that his army didn’t have the might to fight against the great forces that were approaching, and they didn’t know what to do. He concluded his prayer by affirming, “But, our eyes are upon you” 2 Chronicle 20:12.
I love God’s response to King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in verses 15-17. God assured him that Judah did not need to be afraid or consider the great multitude against them. It was not Judah’s battle. It was God’s battle. Judah didn’t need to fight. All God required of them was to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
God won the battle for King Jehoshaphat and his people.
These two scenarios bring forth the power of surrender, acknowledging our inadequacies and stepping aside from battles we can not win even if we try.
Recently, I read an insightful story of an old saint who was asked what she would do if a fierce temptation overtook her. She gave a quick and powerful response. She said, “I would lift up my hands to the Lord and say, ‘Lord your property is in danger. Take care of it quick. Then I’d forget about it till I was tried again.”
What a great lesson for us to call upon Him and notify Him that “buffaloes” are endangering His property. He promises that He will never leave us alone in the battlefield. He is there when we are discouraged, worried, lonely, tempted, sick, having marital problems, in financial valleys or in need of restored hope.
My grandfather was a warrior and a great arrow shooter. I felt protected whenever we traveled through forests that were infested with fierce wild animals. I knew grandpa was there, and I was safe in his care. He protected me.
God protects us irrespective of the outcome of our situation. We sometimes give a helping hand that may ruin the outcome of our battles. Sometimes, we call upon Him when all our “other” helpers have failed. I remember some incidents in Africa when people with problems would seek witch doctors by justifying that, “God helps those who help themselves.” I have seen resources and time spent seeking for professional intervention for spiritual battles that need to be placed on God’s throne of mercy.
King Jehoshaphat didn’t call his military allies to come help him. He called God. Wasted resource, time and frustration are common pitfall for spiritual battles that are not taken to God. No other source can give better hope or assurance. With God, our task is to shout for the battle, then stand still and see His salvation. Our best resources can be easily found on our bended knees.
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