DATE POSTED: Thursday, 2023-03-09
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Chronicles 14:9-12
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹ Now Zerah the Ethiopian (Cushite) came out against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah. ¹⁰ Then Asa went out against him, and they drew up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹ Asa called out to the Lord his God, saying, “O Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in and rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” ¹² So the Lord struck the Ethiopians [with defeat] before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 

OBSERVATION: In today’s world countries are troubled by larger and more complex countries and militaries, and the weaker might call on a superpower country to help them. Asa was known as a man who followed God’s commands, so when an army of 1,000,000 came against him with just 300,000 in his military, he also went to the only superpower he knew – Almighty God. As we consider these verses today, let us consider who it is that holds a position of power in our eyes, that we would dare call on when challenged by apparent giants – large armies, more sophisticated ammunition, large Satan-led corporations out to get the small man/woman, medical issues, loss of loved ones, etc.

APPLICATION: I wonder what it would take for me to build my confidence in God to a level like that of Asa. Although 300,000 sounds like a large number in an army, imagine facing an army over 3 times that size. But as you read the story of this king, you will see that he was so well known in the faith he exhibited in God, that people were actually moving from Israel to Judah so they could be under his reign. He didn’t just say he believed and then trusted God from afar, but he also acted on his trust in God. Think about this – Do you sometimes wonder why friends and acquaintances ask you to pray for them? Could it be that they see God in your life and in your reaction to the circumstances of life, and because they feel like you have a connection to God, they ask you to place their name before the throne? On the flip side, there may be some readers or listeners who may ponder why no one ever asks them to pray for them. But how’s your relationship with God, dear friend? Are you convinced enough about the power of the God you serve, and show evidence of the quality of relationship you enjoy with God, that others are convinced you actually serve the one, true, holy and righteous God of the universe? Remember, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool God, and hardly ever fool all of the people all of the time. The heart that’s impacted by the Word of God, and entrenched in sweet relationship with our awesome God, will be the heart that touches the lives of those they come into contact with. Asa showed those in his kingdom what it meant to be committed to God, to serve Him faithfully and to allow God’s love to make an impact on him so that he could have an impact on those who knew him. As we have been blessed, and as we have been diligent in communicating with God and reading His Word, so our hearts will overflow with the life and character of Jesus Christ, and so will our confidence swell in total trust to all that God is capable of. Let me encourage you to seek the Lord while He may be found, welcome His change into your life, so that you will always trust in Him and share His goodness – all for the glory of God.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Asa knew that there was no one besides God who could help his small army succeed against the huge army led by Zerah. Often, we face giants such as the one faced by Asa. Thank God for this reminder that He is able, just as He was for Asa.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for opening our eyes to the awesome power and love that You freely give to those who love and serve You. There are times that the things of this world will hit us like a ton of bricks, and we don’t know which way to turn. However, it is such joy to reconsider how serious our problems truly are, especially after hearing the challenge that Asa faced when going to battle with the Israelites. Please continue to push us towards the cross, the place that always reminds us of Your grace, and the power of God to overcome death. Help us Lord to always be diligent in seeing Your mighty works and be reminded of how nothing is greater than Your power over sin and the grave. Please draw that unsaved to Yourself oh Lord, so that heaven might be their eternal home. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!