“And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.” (2 Chronicles 14:11–12, ESV)
Long ago, the Ethiopians were a superpower. Egypt held powerful kingdoms ruled by the Pharaohs, but Ethiopia was a force to be reconned with. In the days of Asa, the king of Judah, Ethiopia threatened the Middle East. Ethiopia’s leaders, especially Zerah, desired to take control of the area around Jerusalem and into Lebanon. I believe that Ethiopia hoped to use Judah and the surrounding territories as a buffer against powerful enemies such as Nineveh and Babylon. In a way, Judah was to be a pawn in Ethiopia’s political aspirations.
To exert its power over the region, Ethiopia came at Judah with a powerful army of a million men and three hundred chariots (2 Chronicles 14:9). Chariots were essentially the tanks of the ancient world, able to run over and crush the front lines of opposing armies. To defend Judah, there was King Asa with three hundred thousand soldiers from Judah and two-hundred eighty thousand soldiers from Benjamin. The odds were against Asa and Judah and their defenders. The Ethiopian armies outnumbered them two to one and had superior firepower.
In this crucial moment of impending defeat, Asa called upon the Lord God. Asa was a righteous king who believed in the power and presence of the Almighty. As the armies of the Ethiopians marched toward Judah and Jerusalem, King Asa prayed to God for strength and protection. In the scripture for today, part of one of Asa’s prayers is given. King Asa called upon the Lord for protection saying, “O Lord, there is none like Thee to help, between the mighty and the weak. O Lord our God, we rely on Thee, and in Thy name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, Thou art our God, let not man prevail against Thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Righteous Asa did not see this battle as simply a fight between Asa and Zerah or between the Ethiopians and Judah. Asa saw this as a foreign attempt to take on God Almighty. In that battle, the people of Benjamin and Judah would fight for God. They would defend the Holy land. Asa wanted God between his people and the invading Ethiopians.
In her reading of this scripture, Lettie Cowman gave an interesting commentary. She wrote in her book, Streams in the Desert, the follow piece of wisdom:
“The odds against Asa were enormous. There was a million of men in arms against him, besides three hundred chariots. It seemed impossible to hold his own against that vast multitude. There were no allies who would come to his help; his only hope, therefore, was in God. It may be that your difficulties have been allowed to come to so alarming a pitch that you may be compelled to renounce all creature aid, to which in lesser trials you have had recourse, and cast yourself back on your Almighty Friend.
Put God between yourself and the foe…. “ (pp. 5-6).
When life goes spiraling out of control, put God between yourself and the whirlwind before you. When the stresses seem overwhelming, put God between yourself and the obstacles. When troubles threaten your situation, put God between yourself and the issues. When Satan pummels you with temptations, put God between yourself and the threats. God is more than able to handle the dangers that lie before you.
Remain faithful like King Asa. Call upon the Lord. Seek refuge behind the strength of Almighty God! King Asa put God between his people and the invading armies of the Ethiopians. The end result is given in 2 Chronicles 14:12: “the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.” Evil should know that God will always stand with the righteous!
In the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, there are some amazingly powerful words that echo this theme that God can stand strong between you and your difficulties. Pray over these lyrics and what they may mean at this time in your life…..
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Is there an area of your life where you need God to stand between you and something or someone?
To exert its power over the region, Ethiopia came at Judah with a powerful army of a million men and three hundred chariots (2 Chronicles 14:9). Chariots were essentially the tanks of the ancient world, able to run over and crush the front lines of opposing armies. To defend Judah, there was King Asa with three hundred thousand soldiers from Judah and two-hundred eighty thousand soldiers from Benjamin. The odds were against Asa and Judah and their defenders. The Ethiopian armies outnumbered them two to one and had superior firepower.
In this crucial moment of impending defeat, Asa called upon the Lord God. Asa was a righteous king who believed in the power and presence of the Almighty. As the armies of the Ethiopians marched toward Judah and Jerusalem, King Asa prayed to God for strength and protection. In the scripture for today, part of one of Asa’s prayers is given. King Asa called upon the Lord for protection saying, “O Lord, there is none like Thee to help, between the mighty and the weak. O Lord our God, we rely on Thee, and in Thy name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, Thou art our God, let not man prevail against Thee” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Righteous Asa did not see this battle as simply a fight between Asa and Zerah or between the Ethiopians and Judah. Asa saw this as a foreign attempt to take on God Almighty. In that battle, the people of Benjamin and Judah would fight for God. They would defend the Holy land. Asa wanted God between his people and the invading Ethiopians.
In her reading of this scripture, Lettie Cowman gave an interesting commentary. She wrote in her book, Streams in the Desert, the follow piece of wisdom:
“The odds against Asa were enormous. There was a million of men in arms against him, besides three hundred chariots. It seemed impossible to hold his own against that vast multitude. There were no allies who would come to his help; his only hope, therefore, was in God. It may be that your difficulties have been allowed to come to so alarming a pitch that you may be compelled to renounce all creature aid, to which in lesser trials you have had recourse, and cast yourself back on your Almighty Friend.
Put God between yourself and the foe…. “ (pp. 5-6).
When life goes spiraling out of control, put God between yourself and the whirlwind before you. When the stresses seem overwhelming, put God between yourself and the obstacles. When troubles threaten your situation, put God between yourself and the issues. When Satan pummels you with temptations, put God between yourself and the threats. God is more than able to handle the dangers that lie before you.
Remain faithful like King Asa. Call upon the Lord. Seek refuge behind the strength of Almighty God! King Asa put God between his people and the invading armies of the Ethiopians. The end result is given in 2 Chronicles 14:12: “the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.” Evil should know that God will always stand with the righteous!
In the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, there are some amazingly powerful words that echo this theme that God can stand strong between you and your difficulties. Pray over these lyrics and what they may mean at this time in your life…..
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Is there an area of your life where you need God to stand between you and something or someone?