Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 25, Psalm 31
After King Joash was assassinated, his son Amaziah was crowned king (2 Chronicles 24:25-27). He was twenty-five years old and reigned for twenty-nine years. And although Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, he did not follow Him with his whole heart.
Amaziah organized the army of Judah in order to fight their enemies, the Edomites. He counted the army and found he had 300,000 trained soldiers, but he went ahead and spent 7,500 pounds of silver in order to hire an additional 100,000 fighting men from the nation of Israel.
But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim! If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.”
Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”
The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this!” So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage. – 2 Chronicles 25:7-10
THE LORD IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU MUCH MORE THAN THIS!
When God asks us to let go of something that we are convinced will make us happy or successful, we can trust Him to know what is best for us — even when it causes us to be the recipients of the negative emotions of those who disapprove of our decision. It is good to recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above, and God is capable of making sure we either succeed or fail at what we are trying to accomplish. He has everything we need, so why don’t we trust Him?
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17
God is faithful. We can believe He will do what He promises to do, and we can be confident that He is who He says He is. In fact, He is more. God is beyond what we can comprehend, and He is able to bless us more than we can even imagine. If only we were as faithful to God as He is to us.
When King Amaziah returned home from winning the battle against the Edomite troops, he brought some souvenirs back with him. Even though God had given Amaziah victory over the Edomites, Amaziah collected the false idols that he had taken from the people of Seir. He decided they would be his own gods, and he bowed down and worshiped them. He offered sacrifices to the man-made gods, instead of remaining faithful to the God who made the universe.
This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?” – 2 Chronicles 25:15
How ridiculous to turn to what is incapable of protecting or providing true joy! If these false gods could not give the Edomites victory, then how could Amaziah think that they would do anything for him?
THE LORD IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU MUCH MORE THAN THIS!
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. – Ephesians 3:19-20
Father God, thank you for the reminder this morning that you are the Keeper of everything we need. You are able to answer our prayers and so much more! We choose today to put our hope in you alone, for you are good and you are great! Amen.
How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.
Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In panic I cried out,
“I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.
Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord! – Psalm 31:19-24