We have been looking at the life of a king of had been seeking after God. As a result God was blessing him, just as the prophet told Asa. Now in chapter 16 we see something dramatic happen in the life of Asa. Asa decides to call on the aid of the king of Syria to help him in a struggle with the king of Israel. Asa sinfully trusted a pagan king to protect him instead of trusting in the God who had been blessing him. As a result Asa whole attitude changes and he becomes angry, and oppressive toward his people. Then if you look at verse 12 when he is severely ill the Bible says, "He did not seek the Lord." Wow what an amazing turn in this man's life. Asa once a man who practiced godliness is now practicing godlessness. A man who God had blessed is now being cursed. It’s hard to tell what happened that caused Asa to go from godliness to godlessness. Maybe in all the blessing he was experiencing he took for granted his daily walk with God. Obviously he took his focus off of God until he was not seeking Him any longer. How sad but often all too familiar. Just as the prophet said that as long as you seek God, He will be found. Stop seeking and He will be hidden. I guess the bottom line for us as believers is which do we want to experience? Which Asa will we be? An Asa who followed after God and was blessed even in the midst of trials? Or an Asa who followed after himself and faced great trials alone?
Father I realize that at times in my life I am much like Asa. At times very much following after you. Then at other times choosing my own way. Give me strength when I am faced with the temptation to live for myself. Help me to remember what you have done for me and may I be willing to choose to follow you.
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