Remain Standing
2 Chronicles 14 narrates the history of King Asa, a descendant of Solomon who ruled over Israel and conquered his enemies through obedience and trust in God. Asa’s reign in Israel began peacefully for a period of years until Zerah abruptly attacked the tribe of Judah. (2 Chronicles 14:9). This attack is akin to the sudden and unexpected blows life often throws at us. We live peaceably, tending to our businesses, families, schooling, when suddenly we find ourselves under attack. This very reason is why we ought to pray without ceasing for our adversary is persistently on the prowl. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Peter 5:8).
2 Chronicles 14:11 tells us that “Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” By his cry to the Lord, Asa elevated the fight. He plead his matter before the Lord and surrendered the battle into God’s hands. Like Asa, when we are surrounded on all sides by our adversary, by problems and attacks; let us seek to elevate the fight. Don’t fight the battle from the perspective of the flesh; don’t rely on your own strength. Rather surrender the matter to God and let His glory be made evident in the situation. The Lord heard the cry of Asa and intervened. “So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.” (2 Chronicles 14:12)
The Lord then spoke to Asa through the prophet Azriah saying “And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2). Asa responded positively and embarked on great reforms, ridding Judah of idols and idol worship. He pushed the people to repent and renew their vow of fidelity to Jehovah. For twenty years after Zerah’s defeat, the land enjoyed peace and prospered greatly.
In his thirty sixth year as king however something changed in the king’s relationship with and disposition to God. He faced threat of war from neighboring Israel and instead of calling on God for help as he did before, Asa snubbed God and asked Ben-Hadad of Syria for help. When God reprimanded him for his actions. Asa got angry with Hanani the prophet and threw him in jail. Asa failed to turn back to God and repent. Later he fell ill and again refused to seek healing from God solely focusing on physicians. He died within two years of his illness still at loggerheads with God.
The decline in Asa’s relationship with God leaves us pensive. Why the change in strategy though? Why did he decided to rely on man now and not on God as before? Why abandon the formula that had worked in the past? The bible does not tell us why Asa turned. Was he suddenly not sure of God’s power and ability to help him as before? Did he suddenly doubt God? Had he become so puffed up because of the success he had had that he figured he was ok to go on his own? He felt secure in his own wisdom he thought he had it all covered this time? Had he lost reverence for God? Did he think for some reason God would forsake him? What made Asa think he got it this time? Why did his faith in God wane?
What has made you turn away from God? What is making you think you can do it your own way this time round? Why is your confidence in God waning? Because you are scared that he will not do what he promised? Maybe you’re tired of waiting on Him, you’re tired of sowing seed and having hands laid on you and still not being where you expected to be? The truth is if you think God cannot help you, then no one else can help you. He is able to open doors for you, He is able to connect you to your destiny helpers, he is able to give you that husband, that wife, that child! He can heal that sickness, He can bring that wayward child back home, He is able to give you that miracle you’ve been crying for!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Be confident in His provision; be confident in his protection; be confident in his continuing presence with you. God is not a man that He should lie and He will be good to us all. Receive grace to remain standing.
Selah.