2 Chronicles 13:13-22
Abijah’s speech to the troops of Israel was given with a false air of superiority. It only needed Jeroboam to circle behind Judah to put the king of Judah and his army to the test. In a moment the latter finds itself attacked from behind and on the verge of being crushed. However one direction remains open: heavenwards. The cries of distress rise up to the LORD; now all pretence has gone. Faith appears. The army uses a strange instrument of war . . . but one that is well known in Israel’s history: the trumpet (see Joshua 6:4; Judges 7:18). This is a powerful weapon because the faith which uses it rests on the divine Word and on its ever-valid promises (read Numbers 10:9). The call of faith could not fail to be heard! The piercing sound spoke to the heart of God of the danger facing His own people. And it no doubt also spoke solemnly to the hearts of Jeroboam’s men who were about to make war with their brothers . . . and with the LORD.
The army of Israel is cut to shreds and humiliated (v. 18) thus providing proof that neither force (v. 3) nor guile (v. 13) could overcome faith in God.