When things are tough, it’s more than understandable that the pressure will either bring you down or challenge you to persevere more. What happens, however, when things turn massively in your favour? What if things really appear to be working out for you?
Asa made a very good start to his reign as far as his commitment to God was concerned. He made sure his foundation was about returning to the Lord and ensured the people were in on it.
The episode is then told of the people of Judah being under pressure from the vast Cushite army. Asa applies his reliance on God and sees the situation turn in his favour to such a degree that the opposition are routed by the Lord.
Think about it. The ultimate in turnarounds, a massive victory that establishes you as a force to be reckoned with. This is the greatest position of strength you could possibly consider. You’re on top of the world. Great things beckons and even the word of God through a prophet appears to bolster your position. What do you do?
Look at what Asa did. He built on a position of strength. He used that position to further drive the fundamental religious reforms in the country. It wasn’t about being complacent and resting on your laurels. It wasn’t about taking things easy and boasting in how good things were going.
From here, Asa goes as far as to depose his own grandmother from her regal position because of her idolatrous influence. That’s no easy act, because you can understand how influential she would have been for generations, but Asa saw that as something that had to be removed if the people were to make the most of this golden opportunity to truly reaffirm their commitment to the God who rescued them.
Such is the zeal of Asa that the people are caught up in it committing themselves to a covenant of their own to seek God wholeheartedly. What a state of affairs – what a way to make the most of a position of strength. Things have reached a peak for the people because of their leader’s commitment to God. It’s a powerful lesson to learn of how to reaffirm the foundation for success is the foundation of faithfulness that helped you in challenging times.
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For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 