Receiving Your Heavenly Air Support

Asa stared out the palace window. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the kingdom. Those people rested peacefully, comforted by the fact that Israel was no longer besieging them. Asa smiled. That was because of him.

He had thought of the perfect solution. He had sent the King of Syria silver and gold, and bribed him to break his treaty with Baasha. He listened to Asa, and sent his armies against the cities of Israel. With Syria's betrayal, Baasha eventually had no choice   he had to abandon his post against Judah. Asa chuckled to himself. He had saved his people himself, without having to rely on anyone.

Many people in the nation of Judah had followed him, and did their part in removing every stone and piece of timber they could carry, the stones and timber forming Ramah. The stronghold had been used by Baasha, King of Israel, to stop anyone from coming into or leaving Judah. With those supplies, Judah would build their own strongholds.

"My King."

Asa turned around. Three men had come into the room.Two soldiers flanked an older man. Asa stared for a moment before the memory returned to him. Hanani, the seer... Asa sat at the table, and picked at the plate of figs sitting there.

"The seer wishes to speak with you, my King." The soldier on the right of Hanani looked at him expectantly, awaiting his command.

He nodded at the soldiers, and Hanani stepped forward.

"King Asa. The Lord has a message for you." Asa nodded for him to continue. "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet you relied on the Lord, and he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this. For now on, you will have wars."

Asa felt his blood boil within him. Who was this seer, to speak to him in such a way? He had saved them all! Who cared if he relied on God if the problem was fixed? He spoke through clenched teeth, "Take this man, and put him in the stocks in the prison. Leave him there."

The soldiers each grabbed one of Hanani's arms, but the old seer didn't struggle. He looked like he had expected this. That knowledge only made Asa angrier. "I fixed the problem!" He picked up the plate of figs, and launched it at their backs. Hanani didn't even turn around. He flipped the table onto its side. "I fixed the problem!" He screamed it over and over, but Hanani and God didn't listen to him.

Based on 2 Chronicles 16:1-10

What is your first instinct when you see a problem? Fix it. What if I told you, your instinct was wrong?

You see, Asa had a big problem. Israel had them trapped, and they couldn't get out, and no one could get into Judah. It was only a matter of time before everyone starved. Asa took matters into his own hands. He relied on his solution, and relied on the king of Syria, and not on God.

In my Bible, 2 Chronicles 16 is titled 'Asa's Last Years.' It's heartbreaking to know that this man who relied on God to deliver the Ethiopians and Libyans into his hand, turned away so drastically, and he didn't repent after this. 2 Chronicles 16:12 says, "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help form physicians." His heart completely changed. Instead of trusting in God for the solution, he tried to think of answers, and he went to men to deliver him.

Our hearts and minds have been trained to rely on no one but ourselves. That's not the way it's supposed to be. We are supposed to rely on God.

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:4

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Jeremiah 33:3

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

There is a big difference between trusting God and trusting men. If we look into our hearts, we know who we really trust. But how often is that someone God? Our God is an everlasting rock. He has great and hidden things to tell us. He will supply all of our needs. You do not need to rely on yourself or anyone else. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."

God is ready and waiting to give you strong, Heavenly air support. He is ready to fight your battles, fix your problems, and put food on your table. He is ready. But your heart, and who you really trust, makes all the difference.

V. Joy Palmer

Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.com

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