A warning to all of us as we remember King Asa… (2 Chronicles 16)
Background to 2 Chronicles 16
In 2 Chronicles 15, we read of King Asa having a huge victory over the Ethiopian army, overseeing the spiritual transformation of Judah, and enjoying 35 years of peace.
Chapter 16 continues, with Asa in the 36th year of his reign. The king of Israel, King Baasha began fortifyng Ramah, the town bordering Judah. This was aimed at limiting his own people from going to the Jerusalem Temple to worship Jehovah God.
In order to stop the progress of King Baasha, King Asa sought out King Benhadad (ruler of Syria), and pleaded with him to help to attack Israel. King Benhadad agreed and the efforts to build the fortification were halted. Asa was even able to raid Ramah of the building materials meant for the fortification (verse 6).
Didn’t King Asa learn to depend on God?
On the surface, how King Asa dealt with the issue seemed perfect. The outcomes were good - Judah didn’t lose any life and he managed to obtain additional resources. But King Asa had sinned greatly by not seeking God.
The building of the wall was actually not a big threat to Judah compared to the Ethiopian army King Asa had encountered previously in 2 Chronicles 15. One would expect that King Asa, after hearing the prophecy about God’s providence and going through victories, would have easily depended on God and passed this new trial.
However, King Asa didn’t bring the matter to God but decided to resolve it on his own by forming an alliance with the king of Syria. Could it have been complacency, coming after 35 years of peace and prosperity?
King Asa’s stubbornness
Even when Hanani, the seer, came and reminded King Asa about God’s goodness over Judah and how he had experienced God first-hand (verse 7), King Asa was unrepentant (unlike his ancestor King David who repented after he was confronted with his sins) and locked Hanani up (verse 10).
As a result of King Asa’s disobedience, he had lost the chance to deal with the king of Syria and had to face impending wars. On the 39th year of his reign, King Asa developed severe skin disease in his feet (verse 12). For the next two years, King Asa didn’t cry out to God, as he should, but instead depended on his doctors.
These incidents revealed King Asa’s heart condition.
What about us?
Throughout the bible, there are accounts about people (such as King Asa) not walking in God’s ways according to His Word. They defined their own standards and disobeyed God. Isn’t King Asa’s experience a great warning to all of us? Asa had experienced God’s power of deliverance first-hand, yet he fell. Even when we fall, we might not be like King David, who truly repented when given a chance.
If we don’t benchmark our lives according to God’s standards, there is no standard at all.
Perhaps, it is time to reflect: what are the victories we have experienced with God? How have those victories shaped our understanding of God? What is holding our faith in the Lord - is it faith and grace alone, faith+money or, faith+family? Only we can answer these for ourselves. When trials come, what will happen to us? We are fallible humans too; just like King Asa, we could refuse to acknowledge God in trying times.
Is our faith a metre wide but an inch thick?
There are water bodies out there that are wide but not deep. As a result, there is no economic value as the depth of the water is not deep enough for vessels to pass through or fishing nets to be casted. Similarly, for our christian walk, the same thing can happen. We could have seen or heard a lot about Christ, but true understanding and obedience could be lacking. Perhaps, King Asa was like that.
Thankfully, the Bible is also filled with Christ-like role models to for us to learn from. For instance, Paul pressed on in the faith throughout his life of minisry, placed his trust in Christ, was caned and imprisoned many times. But we know that his love and understanding of his God was deep and genuine.
Let’s remember King Asa and not be complacent!
Be reminded today - that God desires for us to seek Him (in times of trials or peace), and when we do, He will grant true rest. No test is too great for Him. If we trust God to bring us to heaven in the future, it’s only logical that we trust Him regarding the lesser matters on earth now.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:4
Christians in our country enjoy amazing blessings and don’t face public persecution today. Let’s pray, and be watchful, that we remain faithful and not be complacent in times of peace, or trials.
Remember King Asa. He was tested and his heart was found out.
How about us? What kind of heart do we have for our Lord Jesus Christ?
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