“And without faith it is impossible to please Him...” Hebrews 11:6 “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

 2 Chronicles 14:1-7

Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. He removed the pagan altars and the shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord…

Hebrews 11:32-34 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots. They advanced to the city of Mareshah…

Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, "O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!"

“For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless” Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, James 1:2

“Their weakness was turned to strength” – Heb.11:35 “O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!"

[12] So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled. [13] Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the Lord and his army, and the army of Judah carried off vast quantities of plunder.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side. – 2 Chron. 15:15 And there was no more war until the thirty- fifth year of Asa's reign. – 2 Chron. 15:19

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa's territory in Judah.

Asa responded by taking the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord's Temple and from the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message: “ Let us renew the treaty that existed between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”

Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent his armies to attack Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth- maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali. As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah.

Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, "Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram…What a fool you have been! From now on, you will be at war."

How could this happen? He forgot the Lord? Older and wiser now… More practical All God wants… “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to support those whose hearts are committed to him.” – 2 Chron. 16:9

A Bad Reaction (16:10) Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison. At that time, Asa also began to oppress some of his people.

“For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

A Sad Ending (16:11-14) In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Even when the disease became life threatening, he did not seek the Lord's help but sought help only from his physicians. So he died in the forty-first year of his reign

Great King Asa Despised Sour Sickly Stubborn

“Even when the disease became life threatening, he did not seek the Lord's help but sought help only from his physicians.” – 2 Chron. 16:12 These [trials] have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. – 1 Peter 1:7

Faith in God Human Wisdom

Faith in God Human Wisdom

Who to depend on? Consider the proof. The stakes are high! “you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God… At that time you relied on the Lord” – 2 Chron. 16:7,8

Who to depend on? Consider the proof. The stakes are high!  “Don't you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and horsemen? At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them all over to you.” – 2 Chron. 16:8 “Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.” – Isaiah 44:8 (NASB-U) “Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.” – Isaiah 44:8 (NASB-U)

Who to depend on? Consider the proof. The stakes are high!  "Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram… – 2 Chron. 16:8 “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to support those whose hearts are committed to him.” – 2 Chron. 16:9

Faith in God Human Wisdom