The Temptation of Trust: Asa’s Lesson in Dependency
"Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying," - 2 Chronicles 16:2
In the chronicles of the kings of Judah, we encounter a figure named Asa, whose reign offers profound insights into the nature of faith, dependence, and the consequences of misplaced trust. The account in 2 Chronicles 16:2 says, "Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying." Within this singular verse lies a rich narrative about seeking help, trusting God, and the pitfalls that may arise when we rely on earthly means rather than divine intervention.
Asa began his reign with a heart fully directed towards the Lord. He undertook significant reforms to restore the worship of God and rid Judah of its idolatry. He led the people back to the covenant they had sworn with the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 14, we see Asa demonstrating immense faith when threatened by Zerah the Ethiopian, who came against him with a thousand thousand men. Asa cried out to God, "Help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude" (2 Chronicles 14:11 KJV). As a result of Asa's unwavering faith, God delivered him from his enemies. This victory cemented Asa’s reputation as a king devoted to the Lord and established a solid foundation of trust in divine power.
Yet, as the administration continued, the very faith that had fortified Asa began to erode under pressure. In the context of our verse, we find Asa in a precarious situation—facing a new threat from Baasha, king of Israel. Instead of turning once more to the King of kings, Asa chose a different path. He decided to seek aid from Ben-hadad, the king of Syria. This action is significant; it illustrates a critical moment where Asa’s trust shifted from God to man. Why did he not turn to God as he had before? Perhaps the fear of escalating conflict blinded him to the faithfulness God had shown in the past.
Asa’s instinct to seek help from an earthly king instead of the Almighty God highlights a common struggle we all face. In times of distress, our initial reaction might be to turn to tangible solutions, fix our eyes on what we can see and control, rather than to yield to the unseen hand of God that has always been faithful. In doing so, we risk depleting the spiritual treasury that is ours in Christ. We may have moments where we feel that the only path forward is to rely on our own understanding, our resources, or the counsel of worldly advisors. Similarly, Asa extracted silver and gold from the house of the Lord, sacrificing divine resources to appease a foreign ruler.
This act comes with significant implications—both political and spiritual. Politically, it indicates a reliance on secular alliances that could lead to further entanglements. Spiritually, it represents a grave error: allowing fear to eradicate faith. Asa's dependence on Ben-hadad instead of the God who had previously delivered him resulted in a transgression against God, signifying a lack of trust in His ability to protect and provide.
The takeaway for us today is clear: God desires our complete trust in Him, not just in the moments of triumph but also in times of trial. We are called to remember past victories over struggles and to anchor our faith not in what we can control or see, but in the God who promises never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
As we examine our responses to challenges, may we be mindful of Asa’s misstep—a reminder that turning to God when in distress should always be our first line of defense. Let us surrender our fears, seek His guidance in prayer, and rely on His strength. Let our treasure be drawn from the house of the Lord, knowing that true help comes only from Him.
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2 Chronicles 16:2 - "Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,"
"Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying," - 2 Chronicles 16:2
2 Chronicles 13:16 - "And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand."
2 Chronicles 28:16 - "¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him."
2 Chronicles 16:13 - "¶ And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."
2 Chronicles 2:16 - "And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in flotes by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 16:11 - "¶ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel."
1 Chronicles 2:16 - "Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three."
2 Chronicles 21:16 - "¶ Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:"
2 Chronicles 32:16 - "And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah."
2 Kings 16:19 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 12:16 - "And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead."
2 Chronicles 23:16 - "¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people."
2 Chronicles 1:16 - "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price."
2 Chronicles 3:16 - "And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains."
2 Chronicles 16:5 - "And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease."
2 Chronicles 34:16 - "And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it."
1 Chronicles 16:2 - "And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD."
2 Chronicles 30:16 - "And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites."
2 Chronicles 8:16 - "Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected."
2 Chronicles 33:16 - "And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel."
2 Chronicles 7:16 - "For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."
2 Chronicles 4:16 - "The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass."
2 Chronicles 24:16 - "And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house."
2 Chronicles 16:10 - "Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time."
2 Chronicles 36:16 - "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy."
2 Chronicles 17:16 - "And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour."
2 Chronicles 16:6 - "Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah."
2 Chronicles 11:16 - "And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers."
2 Chronicles 35:16 - "So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of king Josiah."