| “It is nothing to thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go” (2 Chronicles 14:11). |
| Yesterday we spoke about the failure in the latter part of Asa’s life, but it is nice to remember a time when he did rely on the Lord, and won a great victory. The Lord had given Asa and the land of Judah rest for ten years at the beginning of his reign, and Asa had used the time profitably. Instead of relaxing, he had built strong cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars, to fortify the land against those who might attack. Also, he had increased the strength of his army, and trained them in methods of fighting. All this was good, and as Christians, we too need to use a time of peace in our lives to read the Word of God, and to edify (or build up) ourselves in the things of the Lord. Asa knew that enemies might well attack, and he wanted to be ready for them. |
| He did not have to wait very long, and when Zerah the Ethiopian came against him, it was with an army of a million men — almost twice as many as Asa had in his army. There was no reason for the Ethiopians to attack; they were coming simply to take silver and gold and other wealth away from Judah. But Asa did not rely on his army or on his fortified cities; rather he relied on the Lord. Asa knew that no matter how large or how small his army was, it was the Lord alone who could give him the victory. |
| When the battle was fought, the Bible records that “the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled” (2 Chronicles 14:12). The victory was so complete that “none of them was left alive” (2 Chronicles 14:13 JND). It overwhelms us to think of one million men being killed like that, but it was God’s judgment on those who came to fight against His people. Asa trusted the Lord, and the Lord gave him the victory. |
| It is not right for Christians today to go out and kill their enemies, but we have spiritual battles instead. The Apostle Paul tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but … against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan is out there, seeking to overcome us and to take away the things we have enjoyed as Christians. We too need to fortify ourselves against him, and as we have already seen in an earlier meditation, we need to put on the whole armor of God. However, we cannot trust in our own strength; rather we must trust the Lord to win the battle for us. |
| Afterwards the prophet Azariah encouraged Asa, telling him to “be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7). We live in difficult times, but the Lord encourages us too, and if we live for His glory in this world, our work too will be rewarded in a coming day. |
