Lessons from HIStory: Oh, Asa…

I just finished reading the story of Asa, king of Judah in 2 Chronicles 14-16. Asa did incredible things as a leader of God’s people because he “was a good king. He did things right in God’s eyes.” (14:1) He took a strong stand for God and was rewarded with years of peace at the beginning of his reign. He said, “We have this peaceful land because we sought God; he has given us rest from all troubles.” (14:7)

But something happened to Asa in chapter 16. After 36 years of success and prosperity as king, he somehow forgot Who was really in charge. Baasha, king of Israel, started attacking Judah, building a fort at Ramah, effectively keeping Asa locked in Jerusalem, and Asa completely lost who he was and Who would take care of him.

Now, let’s remember that this battle isn’t the first tight spot Asa has been in during his reign. Ten years after assuming the throne – 26 years before this latest predicament – he had been outnumbered 2:1 against the Ethiopian army that had marched against Judah. At that point, Asa had boldly prayed, “O God, you aren’t impressed by numbers or intimidated by a show of force once you decide to help: Help us, O God; we have come out to meet this huge army because we trust in you and who you are. Don’t let mere mortals stand against you!” (14:11) And of course, God showed up and gave them victory over their enemies.

Asa then went on and cleared the country of religious pollution and turned them back to God, renewing their covenant with God. “Anticipating the best, they had sought God – and he showed up, ready to be found.” (15: 15) He even de-throned his grandmother because she set up an obscene image of the sex goddess Asherah. What man really wants to cross his grandmother?? But Asa did because he wasn’t going to stand for any No-God religious practices in his own home.

So what happened when Baasha attacked in chapter 16? Instead of again praying boldly for God to show up and lead them to victory against Israel, instead of holding fast to the God who had saved him before, he turned chicken and ran to the king of Aram for help. Where is the bold, confident, zealous king we saw in the previous two chapters? Yes, the king of Aram showed up and Baasha backed off, but at what price? Now, Asa was indebted to Aram and would have to deal with that debt later. Not good, Asa. Not good.

Don’t you just love it how God always sends a prophet to see the kings when they screw up? Predictably, Hanani the seer arrives on the scene to tell Asa what an idiot he’s been: “God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God’s help. Now you’re in trouble – one round of war after another.” (16: 9) In short, you blew it, buck-o!

But did Asa return to God after realizing his lack of faith? No! His pride got in the way and he got angry. He threw Hanani in the stocks, started abusing his people, then died from a foot infection because he trusted human doctors over the God who would deliver him time and time again, if only he would ask.

Why did Asa stop asking? It’s like he just woke up one day and said, “You know what? God really isn’t as good as He says He is. I probably just won that battle against the Ethiopians by luck. God didn’t really have anything to do with it. I’m just wasting my time waiting for Him to show up.” Maybe 36 years of prosperity made him lazy. Maybe he forgot about the Ethiopian victory entirely.

Wow… We aren’t so different from Asa. Let’s be honest, if we don’t remind ourselves of the ways God has been good to us everyday – the big ways he has shown up for us in the past, moving mountains we didn’t think would ever move – we forget all about it pretty quickly. We quit expecting God to show up for us, and we start looking for ways of making things happen ourselves. I suspect that’s why Moses kept instructing the Israelites in the dessert to keep talking about all the miracles they had witnessed, keep talking about how God showed up to take care of them again and again, keep talking about it, so they wouldn’t forget and quit trusting that God would do it again!

Okay, God. I don’t want to be like Asa, all confidence and success at the start, then forgetting Who You are and what you’ve done for me. Help me remember. Help me to keep asking You to show up. Thank you that you are good and do show up for me when I ask for help. I love you. Amen.