God has repeated the same message throughout Chronicles. Seek Him.
At this point, it is impossible to miss. God wants His people to understand that seeking Him isn't something we do only when everything is falling apart. It is how we are supposed to live.
Yesterday we talked about the things that have to be broken off our lives so they don't continue into another generation. Asa understood that. He removed idols, repaired the altar, called the people back to God. He was willing to deal with what didn't belong.
Then years went by. Earlier, when Asa faced an army far bigger than his own, he knew exactly where his help came from, he said “Lord our God, we rely on You.” But when another problem came years later, Asa responded differently. He had been king for a long time. He had experience, resources, and connections and Instead of seeking God, he made an alliance with the king of Aram.
And his plan worked.
That part is important for us to see. Just because something works doesn't mean God was in it. A door can open. A plan can succeed. We can get exactly the result we wanted even though we never asked God about it.
There are things we learn to do well. We learn how to handle situations, solve problems, lead, serve, parent, work, and make decisions. There is nothing wrong with growing in wisdom and experience. The danger comes when experience begins replacing our dependence on him. We can even get so comfortable doing things for God that we stop asking God how He wants them done.
God sends Hanani to remind Asa of the enormous army he had faced before. Asa had relied completely on God then, and God had delivered him. This time Asa relied on someone else. Then God reminds him saying “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” Asa didn't need to become strong enough to handle everything himself. God still wanted to be his strength.
Unfortunately, Asa didn't receive the correction well. He became angry and imprisoned the prophet. Later, when he became seriously ill, Scripture tells us that he relied only on physicians instead of seeking God. The problem wasn't in his seeking medical help. The problem was that God had stopped being where Asa turned.
And that's the part of his story we can't aford to miss. He started relying on God completely. But Somewhere along the way, that changed.
We can look back and see everything God has brought us through. We can recognize the growth, healing, lessons, and experience we've gained along the way.
But none of that means we need Him less.
Healing doesn't mean we need Him less. Growth doesn't mean we need Him less.
Experience doesn't mean we need Him less.
Knowing Scripture doesn't mean we need Him less.
If anything, the farther we go, the more aware we should become of how much we still need Him. Don't just remember the times you relied on God. Rely on Him now. Don't only tell stories about what He brought you through. Seek Him in what you're walking through today. And don't assume you already know what to do simply because you've been here before.
Ask Him.
We still need Him Just as much as we ever did.
Love Pastor Mandy
MandiesDandies / Ark of Hope
Daily reading 2 Chronicles 15-16
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