WRONG DECISIONS

Unfortunately as I read through the Bible, I see a reoccurring theme that truly saddens me. What is that theme you may ask if you have not also noticed it? It is making the wrong decisions in your senior years. Some of those individuals that have done this are Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Asa, and Jehoshaphat, and sadly, these individuals all paid for their wrong decision.

Let me share the story of one of these men who happen to be a king in Judah. King Asa, the son of Abijah’s story, is found in 2 Chronicles 14 -16. King Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of God. He brought religious reformation to Judah by ridding the land of idols, destroying the high places and commanding the people to seek after God and obey His commandments.

For ten years the land was peaceful and prosperous, but then King Zerah of Ethiopia and his army came to war against Judah. When King Asa saw this tremendous army that was arrayed against them he prayed this humble prayer, “Lord, it is nothing with (there is none beside) thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power (between the mighty and him that have no strength): help us, O Lord our God; for we rest in thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11), and God showed Himself strong and allowed Judah to smote the Ethiopians and to spoil their cities. At the completion of the fighting, Judah returned home with an abundance of spoil (gold, silver, camels, cattle, sheep, and garments).

After this war, the prophet Azariah gave a word of admonishment to the king to which he positively responded by once again going through the land destroying the idols he found and calling the people to renew their covenant with God. For the next twenty-five years, Judah once again experienced peace.

In the thirty-sixth year, King Baasha of Israel assaulted the city of Ramah which was in Judah and a short distance from Jerusalem. This time rather than rely on God’s divine intervention, King Asa sought an alliance and help from the Syrians who interposed and routed the Israelis.

After this battle Hanani, the seer came to King Asa and said, “Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9). King Asa was displeased with the rebuke, and he placed Hanani in prison, and he became an oppressor of the people who were not in agreement with his actions.

Three years later in his thirty-ninth year of reigning King Asa’s feet became infected and over time became progressively worse; however, rather than seek God for healing he sought the physicians and eventually he died of this sickness in his forty-first year of reign.

Here is the story of a man that experienced the favor, goodness, and blessings of God. Not only did He bless him, but He also blessed the nation over which King Asa presided. God desired to be their “I AM continually.”  All God wanted was their allegiance and obedience. When King Asa failed to ask God’s help when He rejected God, God granted him his independence.

What have I learned from the life of King Asa? To never think I am so self-sufficient that I don’t need God’s assistance. To never think I can go a moment without Him. To never think I can live a healthy life without His merciful hands being upon me and not to be like so many of the seniors in the bible and make a fatal wrong decision.