In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.” 2 Chronicles 16:1-3 NIV
Judah was under siege, and King Asa was in a bind. But this was nothing new to Asa. He had been attacked before, and by some pretty large armies, but God had always led him in battle and given him success. Sometimes, we can learn just as much from what’s missing in an account as we do from what’s included. That’s the case here. Asa implemented some strategy in aligning himself up with Ben-Hadad, but what he failed to do, that he had always done before, was cry out to God. There is no mention of that happening. He even goes so far as to take the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and give them to this pagan king from whom he is seeking help. Why did he feel he needed this man’s help when God had always helped him in the past? Why is it, when we struggle, we feel as if we need more help than the Lord can give us?
Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” 2 Chronicles 16:1-9 NIV
“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” That’s an amazing thought! God scans the earth looking for people who are serving Him with their whole heart so that He can show them support! Wow! I love that! Asa knew that at one time, but apparently he had lost sight of it. Somewhere along the line, he stopped believing God was enough. He forgot the times God had given him victory against overwhelming odds and lost trust in Him. And as a result he missed out. God would have given him victory in the battle and the matter would have been settled, but instead the threat of war continued on and Asa missed the opportunity to watch God work on his behalf.
When God looks throughout the earth, will He find your heart completely committed to Him?