February 13: 2 Chronicles 16

Ending Well Is as Important as Beginning Well!

A number of high profile pastors and spiritual leaders have fallen prey to the temptations of pride and sin and have left the profession in disgrace. These former spiritual leaders are not the only ones to fail and fall, but they are the highly visible ones. Their examples remind us that it is good to start well. They, no doubt, spent years of dedication and sacrifice to arrive at such an elevated position, only to falter at the pinnacle of success. But finishing well is also important. The journey is not complete until we cross the finish line. Asa fits into this category of starting well/finishing badly.

We find the story of his last days in 2 Chronicles 16. The events of chapter 15 happen during the 15^th year of Asa’s reign. The last verse in chapter 15 (verse 19) informs us that there was peace for 20 years. Then in year 36, Baasha, king of Israel, decided to cut off the access his people had to Judah. He was planning to expand his domain. Asa sees trouble brewing and takes out the treasures from the house of the LORD and even his own house to acquire the help of Benhadad, king of Syria, to take down Baasha. This move was successful in stopping Baasha from his plans for expansion, but at great cost to Judah and the spiritual condition of Asa and the people.

Hanani the seer confronts Asa for his lack of trust by failing to rely on the LORD for help instead of sending for Benhadad.

“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9, NKJV)`

Asa responded in a rage by throwing Hanani in prison. He also oppressed some of his people. Three years later he suffers from a disease in his feet which became very serious. We are told that even though the disease was very painful, he did not seek the LORD; he only sought the help of physicians. After two years of suffering, he died. Since the Chronicler mentions that the heart of Asa was perfect all his days, we may infer that his end did not bring eternal damnation. However, it left a black spot on his reign.

It leaves us wondering where the younger Asa who valiantly encouraged the people to seek the LORD,who cried out to God for help, and who relied on the LORD to deliver him went. It also reminds us that it is easy to slip back into the flesh and stop trusting God. We need to be constantly vigilant to seek the LORD, and not slip and fall at the end.