In 2 Chronicles 25, we encounter a tragic and fascinating character who declares truth to us today. His name is Amaziah, King of Judah. He is interesting, not only because he had a divided heart, but also because he was enormously challenged when it came to doing the will of God from his heart.
Amaziah wanted to go to war with God’s enemies, the Edomites, but rather than trust in God’s ability to give him the victory he went off and hired 100,000 extra troops from his neighbours in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
100,000 additional troops to fight the war! Sounds like a plan. The only problem with it was that, at that time, God’s disfavour was resting on the godless Northern Kingdom. The Lord was not about to bless such a carnal endeavour. He did not need the assistance of 100,000 backslidden apostates.
Then again, 100,000 extra men would surely come in handy. But good ideas are bad ideas when they are not God’s ideas.
By the way, the only one who continually walked in glad obedience to the Father was the Lord Jesus. This He graciously did this on our behalf. We, unlike Him, are prone to plan the future without consulting God. How foolish! Having created, redeemed us and bought us with His blood, Christ Jesus owns us. We are not our own, we are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
But back to our story……. Here he is, this fearless King, inspecting his troops, ready to march the road to glory when a “Servant of God” arrives on the scene warning him that unless he dismisses the 100 000 apostates the expedition will end in disaster.
In the Bible, these servants of God show up at the most awkward of moments. Think of Samuel with his; “What meaneth the bleating of these sheep” line. And then there’s Nathan with his “Thou art the man” declaration. Watch out Jezebel and Ahab, just when you thought you got away with the theft of Nabob’s vineyard, here comes Elijah with his piercing word, straight from the Lord. Would to Heaven there were more servants of God these days who would speak to our conscience and warn us of the consequences of walking away from the will of God!
Amaziah’s response to the warning was astonishing. He asks; “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given for the army of Israel?” He’s saying; “Look here, I’ve invested a lot of finance into this and I can’t afford to lose it.” In this, Amaziah is right up to date. He’s a 21st-century man. He is more interested in principal than principle. He seems more concerned about financial loss than obedience to the will of God.
Well, Amaziah is in a pickle, and it’s all of it his own making. He’s the author of his own dilemma. He had no business working with the godless Northern KIngdom in the first place. He began with a wrong direction, but now he’s considering staying the course. He says, “Look here, you are asking me to lose money on this deal…..that can’t be God’s will…. can it?” You see once a wrong course is begun it’s not always so easy to get back to the right direction.
I love the response the man of God gives to Amaziah. He says, “The Lord is able to give thee more than this.” This sounds like the Apostle Paul “Godliness is profitable unto all things having a promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
So in conclusion, as gospel believers, we need to get into the habit of doing the right thing, no matter what the cost. We should never cut corners to get a financial gain. We should always be more concerned with pleasing our Saviour than in gaining some social or monetary advantage. Let’s not be like Amaziah, who when confronted with the will of God was more concerned that he was putting himself at a financial disadvantage. Remember, “God is able to give us much more than this.”
And how did it all turn out for Amaziah in the end? Exclamation! Do you want me to spoon-feed you as well (said he with a smile)? Read it for yourself in the best book ever written. You’ll enjoy drawing more insight from this Ancient King with a modern story.
Blessings in the name of Jesus whose righteousness alone qualifies us to stand before the Father.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!