Definition: And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; [therefore] I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 12:7. It's a really important passage about God’s judgment and protection. Here’s a simple explanation: The Basic Story: This verse is part of a story about a rebellion led by Shishak, a man who was trying to trick the people of Jerusalem into attacking the city. God saw this defiance and decided to intervene. Let's unpack it word-by-word: “And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves…” – This is key. God is observing how the people are behaving. They’ve been disrespectful, defiant, and perhaps even trying to trick him. “…the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah…” - God sent a messenger, called Shemaiah, to understand what was happening. “saying, They have humbled themselves; [therefore] I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance…” – This is the core message. God isn’t going to immediately punish them with destruction (like a big war). Instead, He's giving them a chance to be saved. The phrase "they have humbled themselves" means they've been disrespectful or defiant in a way that displeases him. “…and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.” – This is where it gets really important. God doesn’t want to unleash a devastating punishment on Jerusalem (the city). Instead, He chooses to protect it through a plan called "deliverance." “My wrath” refers to divine anger or fury. “By the hand of Shishak” means that this protection will be handled by someone who is not directly involved in the rebellion. What does it mean overall? It’s essentially God's way of protecting a city and its people, even though they’ve been acting wrongly. It shows that He loves his people and wants to protect them, even when they make mistakes. It’s a reminder that God is watching over us and has a plan for our lives. In short: God sees the disrespect of the people and chooses to protect Jerusalem through a carefully orchestrated plan – giving them some help or safety. Does this make sense? Do you want me to explain any part in more detail, or perhaps relate it to another Bible verse? For example, are you interested to know about: The context of the rebellion? Why God chooses to protect Jerusalem?