September 2, 2010 - 2 Chronicles 14, 15–And the reaping principle…
As far as 2 Chronicles is concerned, Asa did what was right and Judah and everyone who moved there had peace for those years. But where there is smoke…
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”
2 Chronicles 16:7-9 (ESV)
It is interesting how mean Asa got when he heard his consequences. He took it out on the seer and some of the people as well. HUMMMMM, human nature I guess. I call it the trickle down thing, in his case it seems it was a flood effect.
As far as we are concerned: Where there is smoke, there is fire...and the principle of reaping what you sow...I have only to echo Job, Hosea and Paul:
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
Job 4:8 (ESV)
You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors,
Hosea 10:13 (ESV)
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
Unfortunate as it may feel, God's "consequence principles" never fail. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning and the "turn to Me and I will rescue" principles never fail either.
Some Whale Art…
