Lessons on Asa (5)—Falling After a Great Victory - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria saying, "Let there be a treaty between you and me."
2 Chronicles 16:2-3

Lessons on Asa (5)—Falling After a Great Victory
The enemy does not like to see the people of God in peace and prosperity. He used Zerah the Ethiopian, and when it failed, he used Baasha, king of Israel. Asa had victory over Zerah in the 15th year of his reign, which was the 35th year of Judah's kingdom after the division (, 19). On this occasion, many from Israel went to Judah. In order to stop that, the year after, Baasha came against Judah. It was the 36th year of Judah's kingdom, the 16th year of Asa's reign, and about the 16th year of Baasha's 24-year reign over Israel (16:1).

So these events take place only a year after Asa and all the people with him had sworn to seek the Lord their God with all their heart. Unfortunately, Asa turned to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, for help. He lost all his riches in doing so. This is a lesson for us. When the Christian turns to man for help instead of God, he also loses his true riches. Another lesson is, "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). After his great victory, having sought the Lord for deliverance, Asa fell and failed to seek the Lord's help.

Hanani the seer rebuked Asa concerning this failure. Was he not delivered when he relied on the Lord his God? "In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars" (2 Chr. 16:9). Asa did not have the humility to acknowledge his error, and he became enraged at Hanani and put him into prison. He also oppressed some of the people who were probably telling him he was wrong.

Asa had about 24 years to think on what he did, but we see no change of heart in him. In the disease of his feet, he sought the physicians instead of the Lord. Were they of any help? He died of it! It is when we have a great victory that we are most in danger of falling. Let us seek the Lord always, especially when we feel sure of ourselves!

Alexandre Leclerc