Missed opportunities!

King Asa was one of the better kings of Judah. He spent most of his life doing what was pleasing to the LORD. Here we have an account of King Asa missing the mark in God’s opinion. Because of King Solomon’s sin, the nation of Israel is split in half and they are in constant conflict for hundreds of years. Wars rage on and off between Israel and Judah even though they are both the children of God and part of the nation of Israel. That is an interesting study all unto itself.

King Baasha of Israel has attacked again and taken Ramah. Asa’s response is to bribe Ben-Hadad the king of Aram (Syria) to break his treaty with Baasha. Asa’s plan works; at least in his eyes. Ben-Hadad attacks the territory of Baasha and so Baasha withdraws from Ramah. Then the seer Hanani comes and tells Asa that he has made a mistake.

The problem is that Aram is an enemy nation and God had told the nation of Israel not to make any treaties with them. It was God’s desire to give the land of King Ben-Hadad to the nation of Israel. And to do that they would have to destroy the king and his army. God wanted Asa to come to Him with this problem and allow Him to solve it for Asa. This was an ongoing weakness of Asa. As this chapter ends we are told that Asa had a disease in his feet that he would not go to the LORD about and so he died.

Asa missed an opportunity to do a great work for God. He missed it because he trusted in something that he could see and understand rather than going in faith to God. Because of his lack of faith, he missed an opportunity to win a great victory for God. How many of us have done the same thing? As we look at a situation, we determine how to deal with it without ever even consulting the LORD. We might even do something like Asa did and work out a deal with the enemy to help us.

Twice in this chapter it is mentioned that Asa did not trust fully in the LORD and it cost him something. Trusting in the LORD means that we go to Him with absolutely everything and ask for His wisdom and direction. And while you wait for a response from God you keep working on plans and strategies, but you must trust the LORD to direct your path because that is exactly what He wants to and will do.

As leaders in families, ministries, and churches we must trust God with all of our decisions. If we don’t, then we risk missing an opportunity to something tremendous for God. God wants to use us, no matter how insignificant we might think we are, to do mighty miraculous things. Jesus, help us so that we don’t miss an opportunity that You set before us to change someone’s life or to change the world.

Read: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14; Romans 9:1-24; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 20:1