We see God’s work and receive his help, so why try to go it alone?

By Dean Collins

Sometimes we act as if God needs just a little help. After all, God has forgiven us, filled us with his Spirit, and given us various gifts. He has shown us how he can use our talents and placed us in various positions to lead. With all of God’s investment in us, and with the reminder from Genesis that we bear the image of God, surely we should jump in and help God get more accomplished.

After all, the world is a big place and there are big, big problems like poverty, war, various forms of injustice, and many very sick people. So with all God has to deal with, maybe we could relieve him of some things or at least not bother him as much and figure out how to deal with some things by our own strength, exerting a little muscle here and here with our negotiating skills.

Difficult but victorious

Maybe that’s what King Asa thought. In 2 Chronicles 15 we read that God’s prophet Azariah went to Asa and confirmed that the Lord was with him. In chapter 14 there was already a powerful example that God was with Asa when he cried out to God and prevailed against the Ethiopian army that was double the size of Judah’s.

But times were still difficult for the king and for his people: “In those times,” the Bible says, “there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.”

And in the middle of these difficult times, God confirmed through his prophet that God was with Asa. “But you, take courage!” he said. “Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 

Peace and protection

Asa did take courage, and in response he destroyed the detestable idols that many were worshiping and doubled down on keeping God’s commands. The end of chapter 15 states there was no more war until the 35th year of Asa’s reign.

But then Asa seemed to think perhaps God needed a little help. Or maybe he thought he would not bother God with any request; he would simply do a side deal with the king of Syria so a war might be avoided. This would leave God to focus on other important things in the world. And for a short time, it seemed to have worked.

But God sent another spokesman to King Asa: “At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, ‘Because you 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 because you relied on the Lord, he gave 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 from now on you will have wars.” 

Asa is recorded as one of the good kings, but his self-reliance interrupted the peace and protection of God. 

Our best . . . and his

I am sure God gives us our brains to use. And he expects us to do our best with all the resources he has provided. But it is also clear that he wants us fully to rely on him as we deal with the ups and downs of our lives. He will give his strong support to us as we humbly and daily seek him. He is watching and will eagerly lean in when we rely on him instead of believing we can handle some things on our own and just call on him when we mess up.

Yes, God is with us in our weaknesses as many passages of Scripture point out. But it is foolish for us to think we are wise enough and strong enough to handle some of life and only lean on God in occasional moments of weakness. 

Lord, forgive us for our tendency to turn to you occasionally or only when things get tough. Help us stay in daily surrender to you that we might experience your peace and protection in every situation. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we might learn not to rely on ourselves but daily to rely on you in every moment.  Be glorified in our daily sacrifice and use us for your purposes today and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭19; 16:1-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Rommel Davila on Unsplash
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