Context No. 4089 of 4322 · 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees 13:18-26: in context

18But the king, having had a taste of the exceeding boldness of the Jews, made strategic attacks on their positions, 19and on a strong fortress of the Jews at Bethsura. He advanced, was turned back, failed, and was defeated. 20Judas sent the things that were necessary to those who were within. 21But Rhodocus, from the Jewish ranks, made secrets known to the enemy. He was sought out, arrested, and shut up in prison. 22The king negotiated with them in Bethsura the second time, gave his hand, took theirs, departed, attacked the forces of Judas, was put to the worse, 23heard that Philip who had been left as chancellor in Antioch had become reckless, was confounded, made to the Jews an overture of peace, submitted himself and swore to acknowledge all their rights, came to terms with them and offered sacrifice, honored the sanctuary and the place, 24showed kindness and graciously received Maccabaeus, left Hegemonides governor from Ptolemais even to the Gerrenians, 25and came to Ptolemais. The men of Ptolemais were displeased at the treaty, for they had exceedingly great indignation against the Jews. They desired to annul the articles of the agreement. 26Lysias came forward to speak, made the best defense that was possible, persuaded, pacified, gained their good will, and departed to Antioch. This was the issue of the attack and departure of the king.

This passage records the frustration of a great king. Antiochus, with his army, attacks the Jewish strongholds, but he is repeatedly turned back, defeated, and unable to prevail against the people he had come to crush. And in the end, hearing of trouble elsewhere in his kingdom and unable to overcome the Jews, he is forced to make peace with them, granting their rights, honoring their sanctuary, and coming to terms.

The great king who set out to destroy them ends up negotiating a settlement with them. There is a quiet lesson in this reversal. Antiochus had all the advantages, a great army, resources, the power of an empire, and yet he could not accomplish his purpose against a people whom God was protecting. His plans were frustrated, not by a greater army, but by the God who stood behind his people. The powers of this world can look invincible, but they are not, when they set themselves against what God is protecting. God is able to frustrate the plans of the great and to bring even a king who sought to destroy his people to make peace with them.

When I feel outmatched by forces set against me, do I trust that God is able to frustrate the plans of the great and to protect his own, so that what he guards cannot finally be overthrown, however invincible the opposition appears?

Sources

2 Maccabees 13:19: "On a strong fortress of the Jews at Bethsura. He advanced, was turned back, failed, and was defeated."
2 Maccabees 13:23: "He... made to the Jews an overture of peace, submitted himself and swore to acknowledge all their rights... honored the sanctuary and the place."
2 Maccabees 13:24: "Showed kindness and graciously received Maccabaeus."