Read 2 Chronicles 13

“Now look, God Himself is with us as our head...” (2 Chronicles 13:12)

Headship matters greatly.

It is of utmost importance in the Scriptures. What is headship? It is the position of a leader or a commander. The Almighty has established headship everywhere in His design of the universe — from scientific laws to human order to our understanding of God Himself.

For example, headship is found in the things we take for granted on a daily basis. We must breathe constantly. You have taken approximately a dozen breaths while reading this and didn’t think about it until now. You could say, on a scientific level, we are under the headship of oxygen.

Headship is also essential for human society. Every nation needs a chief, every army a commander, every business a boss, and every home a leader.

Headship is even found within the nature of our Triune God. Though the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are coequal in essence of divinity (what theologians call “consubstantiality”), there is still a divine headship within. Christ submits to the headship of the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to the headship of Christ (see John 14:28; 15:26; 1 Corinthians 15:28).

The Apostle Paul masterfully strings together the order of this headship in the Book of 1 Corinthians, saying —

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)

Paul expounds on this further in the Book of Ephesians.

“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23)

(See also Ephesians 1:22-23)

Headship, then, not only tells us the story of how God has designed the universe to operate, but also how God has intended His creation to experience victory, purpose and happiness. But when headship is broken or forfeited, God’s intended design is broken as well, which produces defeat, turmoil and frustration.

This is why fatherless homes, not motherless homes, are responsible for harsher consequences upon children. (I recommend going to fatherhood.org for statistics.) Why? Because God has installed the father of the home with headship. But when headship is absent, God’s intended design breaks.

More importantly, when someone refuses to come under the headship of Christ and God, the consequences are grave. Conversely, when someone willingly comes under the shadow of the Almighty, the outcomes are profound!

Now, in 2 Chronicles 13, we have a conflict between two kings in Israel: Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah was the king of the southern kingdom of Judah while Jeroboam was the king of the northern kingdom of Israel. In time, a civil war broke out between these two kingdoms. Who would win?

King Abijah of Judah and his army only had half as many men as King Jeroboam of Israel and his army. Yet, King Abijah followed God as his head, while King Jeroboam worshipped two golden calves, forsaking God’s authority.

And it is in this context where King Abijah delivers his speech on God’s headship:

“Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor. Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel... As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him... Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!””(2 Chronicles 13:3–12, abridged)

Would the larger army of Jeroboam or the smaller army with God as its head win the battle? You know! Despite being severely outnumbered, God delivered the victory to King Abijah!

Dear Beloved, what great truth this is for us! All we need to do in order to experience purposeful lives is to come under the headship of God and Christ! Surrender to Him and you will be happy! Submit to His Word and you will find blessing! It doesn’t matter the odds that are against you when God is your head. There is victory even when you are outnumbered.