1. We focus on trying to get answers to these questions instead of praising God. But there’s no hint of
those issues coming up in the incident with Jehoshaphat and Judah.
a. In order to praise God in the hard times we must have a clear understanding of the nature of life in
a world that has been damaged by sin. Impossible, and even irreversible situations come up.
1. In this fallen world we must regularly deal with the effects of Adam’s sin. Moths and rust
corrupt and thieves break through and steal (Matt 6:19; Whole lessons for another day).
2. Enemy armies came against Judah because that’s life in a sin cursed earth. Due to Adam’s sin
the whole region around Judah was populated with war-like tribes of men with sin natures,
under the dominion of the devil, who acted aggressively toward neighboring countries.
b. You can do everything right and troubles still come you way. That’s the nature of life in this
world. (More on that in a moment.) So much of the popular teaching in Christian circles today
gives the impression that if you do everything right nothing bad will happen to you.
1. But that is contrary to what Jesus said. He clearly stated that “In the world you will have
tribulation and trials and distress and frustration” (John 16:33, Amp).
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2. This doesn’t mean there’s no protection or provision for us. However there’s no such thing as
a problem-free, trouble-free life in this sin damaged world.
A. Not only do “impossible to solve situations” come our way, irreversible things sometimes
occur. But even those aren’t bigger than God.
B. Some things can and will be rectified in this life even though they are impossible for us.
And, irreversible things will be made right in the life to come. You must know this in
order to praise God continually.
c. For example, other people sometimes make choices that bring issues into our lives which we can’t
avoid  even if we are doing everything right.
2. The generation of Israelites that came out of slavery in Egypt made bad choices that affected a lot of
people. As you recall, God supernaturally delivered them from Egyptian slavery and led them to
Canaan, the land God had promised to them through their ancestor Abraham.
a. Based on the report of a reconnaissance mission that told of walled cities, war-like tribes and
unusually large men, these people refused to cross the border into Canaan. Num 13; 14
1. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who said Israel should go into Canaan as God instructed.
Both knew they’d be successful because God was with them. Num 13:30; 14:8,9
2. The people rejected their counsel. As a consequence of their unbelief, God sent them all back
into the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan for the next forty years. Num 14:26-35
b. Even though Joshua and Caleb did everything right their entry into the promised land was
postponed. They lost forty years in Canaan. Because of the behavior of other people they were
old men (in their eighties) when they finally took possession of the land.
3. Consider two other men who did everything right yet their lives were greatly affected by the poor
choices of others, two prophets, Jeremiah and Habakkuk.
a. Just before Israel finally crossed the border into Canaan to take possession of and settle the land,
God, through Moses, warned them: If you abandon Me to worship the gods of the people around
you, you will be removed from the land (Deut 4:25-28). That’s exactly what happened.
b. After Joshua’s death (thirty years after they entered Canaan) no national leader arose and Israel
functioned as a tribal society ruled by judges or heroic military deliverers who were raised up in
times of trouble. During these years the people struggled with idol worship.
1. In 1043 B.C. the tribes united under Israel’s first king, Saul, who was succeeded by David and
then Solomon. After Solomon’s death in 931 B.C. civil war broke out and Israel divided into
a northern and southern kingdom known as Israel and Judah, respectively. Idol worship began
immediately in Israel (the north) and eventually spread to Judah (the south).
2. Just as God promised, in 722 B.C. Israel was overrun by the Assyrians and its inhabitants
scattered throughout Assyria’s empire. In 586 B.C. Judah was conquered by the Babylonian
Empire. After a nineteen month siege, Jerusalem and the Temple were burned to the ground,
the city walls pulled down, and all but the poorest people taken as captives to Babylon which
was hundreds of miles away.
c. During the years of the divided kingdom God raised up a number of prophets and sent them to His
people, calling them to come back to Him and warning of coming destruction at the hands of their
enemies if they did not. Jeremiah (ministered from 627 B.C. to 586 B.C.) and Habakkuk (609
B.C. to 605 B.C.) were two prophets sent to Judah after the destruction of Israel.
1. Both men did everything right. They served the Lord, faithfully carried out their charge to
prophesy an unpopular message. Yet because their countrymen chose to reject their messages
and persist in idol worship, both men experienced all the calamity that came on Judah.
2. They saw the destruction of their country. We don’t know what happened to Habakkuk.
Jeremiah witnessed, but survived, the attack on Jerusalem.
A. His message had been: Submit to Babylon and save your country. King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon said Jeremiah could come to Babylon and be honored or stay in Judah.
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B. Jeremiah chose to remain in Judah but was soon taken captive by fellow countrymen
trying to resist Babylon through guerilla warfare tactics. They fled to Egypt for protection
and took the prophet with them where he eventually died.