REASONS BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

 

Reason #7:  So God Can Bring Wonderful Things to Our Lives

Lesson Five

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTIION

 

A.   Has anyone ever remodeled a room?

1.     What is the process?

2.     NOTE:  The process involves going through the mess in order to reap the beauty of a new room.

 

B.    In like manner, sometimes we must go through pain and suffering in order for God to bring something wonderful to our lives.

 

I.           WE SUFFER SO GOD CAN BRING SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO OUR LIVES

 

A.   Background of Jehoshaphat, the fourth (4^th) king of Judah.

1.     He began his reign in righteousness (II Chron. 17:3-5a).

 

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David his father, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in all the commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.  Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand…

 

2.     On one occasion, he “joined affinity with Ahab,” the wicked king of Israel.  He lost the battle, however (II Chron. 18).

3.     He was rebuked by the seer (prophet) Jehu (II Chron. 19:1-2); then set out again to bring the people “back unto the God of their fathers” (II Chron. 19:4).

4.     It was when things were going well again that enemy armies “came against Jehoshaphat to battle” (II Chron. 20:1).

 

B.    When the enemy approached, Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (II Chron. 20:3).

1.     Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord (II Chron. 20:4).

2.     Jehoshaphat prayed unto God (II Chron. 20:5-13, esp. v. 12).

 

O our God, wilt thou not judge them?  For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do:  but our eyes are upon thee.

 

3.     The Lord answered their prayer immediately.  Jahaziel of the tribe of Levi spoke to Judah, having the Spirit of the Lord (II Chron. 20:14-17, see vs. 15b, 17).

 

…thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your’s, but God’s….Ye shall not need to fight in this battle:  set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem:  fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them:  for the Lord will be with you.

 

C.   God did overcome the enemy, setting ambushments against the children of Amon, Moab, and Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten (II Chron. 20:22).

 

D.   Three blessings came to Israel:

1.     Victory over their enemies.

2.     Spoils that took three days to collect (II Chron. 20:25).

3.     Peace during the reign of Jehoshaphat (II Chron. 20:29-30).

 

And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.  So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet:  for his God gave him rest round about.

 

4.     NOTE:  This wonderful outcome “would never have…occurred without the enemy invaders breathing invincibly down their necks in the first place” (21 Reasons, Earley, 70)>

 

E.    Application:

1.     We cannot be healed of sickness unless there is sickness.

2.     We cannot have bills paid when there are no bills to pay.

3.     There cannot be restoration unless there is dilapidation.

4.     There can’t be victory unless there is a struggle with the enemy.

5.     There cannot be reunion unless there is separation.

6.     There cannot be reconciliation unless there is conflict.

7.     To have resurrection, there must first be death.