For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor once wrote that, "God created man because he loves stories." I think that's what this verse is all about.
Remember the account from yesterday? Judah was being attacked by the bigger and tougher army from Israel. Abijah, Judah's godly king, stood up against Israel because he knew he was in the right and that God was on his side. To sum up the story, Judah sent Israel packing.
Fast forward 35 years to the reign of Abijah's son Asa. Asa is usually remembered as a good king... at least as far as his early years go. In fact, Judah experienced a revival during that time called Asa's reform. Then Israel once again oppressed Judah, and Asa buckled. Instead of manning up and trusting God for victory, he sent a large gift of gold (much of it from the temple treasury) to the king of Aram as protection money. In return Ben-Hadad came to Judah's rescue, and the end result was that Judah was safe, but subject to Aram.
The prophet Hanani got right in Asa's face and told him he was wrong. How did Asa respond? He pouted. For five years he pouted, his feet hurt, and then he died.
The next time you're faced with the choice of trusting God or selling out, remember Asa's sad end.
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