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Asa did what was good in the eyes of YHWH, Asa started out well and cleansed the country for all false gods and alters, removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, He expelled the male cult prostitutes from the land and he taught the people to worship only one God, YHWH. Asa taught his people the words of God written by Moses and others of God’s prophets, they had to read it or listen to someone who had.

Not reached the heart

Asa did not ask the people to worship YHWH, he ordered them to do it, however the problem was that the Israelite lived together with other people “the Canaanites” and little by little they went back to worship other gods, wood and stones. The words of YHWH had not reached the hearts of the people.

Only one option

Then when the people believed in YHWH Zerah the Ethiopian came out against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots. Asa with his army of “only 580,000” came out to face this huge army, however, they had no chance of winning, they had only one option, YHWH, he is always the only option.  It is strange to say that this impossible situation was to Asa’s advantage. The certainty of losing, forced Asa to believe in YHWH and pray to the only God.

The prayer

“O YHWH, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak; so help us, O YHWH our God, for we trust in and rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O YHWH, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

We are the week

Asa says in this powerful prayer that God is the only one that can help the weak in the struggle against the powerful. In this world the circumstances are the powerful and we are the week and the only helper is YHWH God by his son Jesu Christ.

These prosperous times are dangerous

Then YHWH God beat the enemy and they fled, and Asa’s army destroyed them, and the land had peace for many years. When Asa and his army had won, and victorious went back to Jerusalem, Azariah one of God’s prophets came out to meet Asa. Now everything was good, the people happy and they had enough of all by the spoil they took. However, these prosperous times are dangerous, and YHWH sent his man to warn Asa.

A miraculous victory

Azariah warned Asa not to rely on his ability and his wealth and said “YHWH is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you” God had given Judah and Benjamin a miraculous victory and Asa once more cleansed the land from the repulsive idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. Then he restored the altar of YHWH which was in front of the porch of YHWH.

YHWH gave them rest

He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers who were with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. They assembled at Jerusalem,and sacrificed to YHWH on that day and entered into a covenant to seek YHWH of their fathers with all their heart and soul and that whoever would not seek YHWH, God of Israel, was to be put to death and they swore an oath to YHWH So, YHWH gave them rest on every side. However, this time the high places were not removed.

Not the plan of YHWH

Then came the time of plenty and peace, “the time of danger”, and yes, the enemy attacked, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in. Asa and Judah were once again in big trouble, however this time Asa had more than one option, he turned to Aram, to king Ben-hadad, gave him a lot of silver and gold and ask him for help against Baasha the king of Israel. The silver and gold diplomacy helped and king Baasha withdrew from Ramah, this plan of Asa proved to be successful, however it was not YHWH’s plan. Because Asa didn’t turn to God when in trouble, God’s peace left Asa and his people, and he had war the rest of his life. God’s health protection also left the king and he had a severe disease in his feet until he died. Asa left God in his final years and died in his 41st year of his reign.

Turn to God first

Asa left God; however, he is still on the line to Jesus. Is this story about Asa, no it is about God and his goodness, He has a plan for you and me, we need to turn to God first, then He might say “go to the hospital” or He gives you, in your mind what to do. The eyes of God go to and fro throughout the earth looking for those whose heart is his.

Questions

1. Do you remember God every day?
2. Is this world your enemy or your friend?
3. Can we talk to God?
4. Who can teach us about God?