April 16 - II Chronicles 13-16
I hope you enjoy these readings in II Chronicles as the Lord reviews the reigns of the kings of Judah. It is very encouraging to me. Today, the emphasis is on peace that comes from seeking the Lord's will. I don't know about you, but I believe we live in a world that needs peace, so we really need this lesson.
King Abijah found himself greatly out numbered in a battle against Israel. His first response was to proclaim his trust in God and his belief that since Judah had continued to follow God's laws and Israel had not, that God would give Judah the victory, even against the odds. That is exactly what God did. In fact, God inflicted such a defeat on Jeroboam's forces that they were never again a threat during his reign. Doesn't that show the power of God to bring lasting results in our lives when we trust him. This was not a temporary victory, but a victory that brought a long period of peace. I hope you will trust God in that way in your own life and against your own enemies, so you can have lasting victory. Identify those enemies, and cry out to God like Abijah did today.
Asa's reign is a lesson on peace. God gave Judah peace for an extended time, because Asa was faithful to seek the Lord and to put away the idols. Then, when the Ethiopians did come with one million men, God gave the victory and extended the time of peace. Under Asa the people even had a revival and renewed their covenant with the Lord. This even caused more people to come from Israel because they saw how God was blessing Judah. This is the secret of having peace and rest in your life. Rest in the Lord. Seek Him fully, and He will give you peace. Even if a battle comes while you are trusting Him, He will give you the victory in His way. This is how God works. Remember, II Chronicles 16:9. Memorize it, so you have it in your heart all the time.
The problem is that Asa ceased to trust God, so God ceased to protest him. That happens when a person takes God for granted. Asa trusted the king of Syria, and he trusted the doctors instead of God, so he died. When he died, he was not trusting in God. He had decided he knew better what to do than God. This is a terrible situation that creeps into our lives and causes us to stop trusting God fully.
I do not believe that this passage means that a person should not go to a doctor, or that going to a doctor means a person is not trusting God. I believe the Lord is saying that Asa went to a doctor instead of turning to God. In every instance of life we should turn to God first. Then if we need help from a doctor or some other person, we can go to them later. In fact sometimes that person is the answer to our prayer. God often works through people to answer our prayers, but He wants us to go to Him first. That shows our complete trust in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 17-20.
King Abijah found himself greatly out numbered in a battle against Israel. His first response was to proclaim his trust in God and his belief that since Judah had continued to follow God's laws and Israel had not, that God would give Judah the victory, even against the odds. That is exactly what God did. In fact, God inflicted such a defeat on Jeroboam's forces that they were never again a threat during his reign. Doesn't that show the power of God to bring lasting results in our lives when we trust him. This was not a temporary victory, but a victory that brought a long period of peace. I hope you will trust God in that way in your own life and against your own enemies, so you can have lasting victory. Identify those enemies, and cry out to God like Abijah did today.
Asa's reign is a lesson on peace. God gave Judah peace for an extended time, because Asa was faithful to seek the Lord and to put away the idols. Then, when the Ethiopians did come with one million men, God gave the victory and extended the time of peace. Under Asa the people even had a revival and renewed their covenant with the Lord. This even caused more people to come from Israel because they saw how God was blessing Judah. This is the secret of having peace and rest in your life. Rest in the Lord. Seek Him fully, and He will give you peace. Even if a battle comes while you are trusting Him, He will give you the victory in His way. This is how God works. Remember, II Chronicles 16:9. Memorize it, so you have it in your heart all the time.
The problem is that Asa ceased to trust God, so God ceased to protest him. That happens when a person takes God for granted. Asa trusted the king of Syria, and he trusted the doctors instead of God, so he died. When he died, he was not trusting in God. He had decided he knew better what to do than God. This is a terrible situation that creeps into our lives and causes us to stop trusting God fully.
I do not believe that this passage means that a person should not go to a doctor, or that going to a doctor means a person is not trusting God. I believe the Lord is saying that Asa went to a doctor instead of turning to God. In every instance of life we should turn to God first. Then if we need help from a doctor or some other person, we can go to them later. In fact sometimes that person is the answer to our prayer. God often works through people to answer our prayers, but He wants us to go to Him first. That shows our complete trust in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 17-20.