2 Chronicles 16

Verses 1-6, “In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying, 'Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.' So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work. Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.”

Baasha, the king of Israel, wanted to block the entrance to Judah by building up the city of Ramah. This was a strategic move to block any trade, but also any worship activity from happening in Jerusalem.  But rather than turning to God in his time of trouble, Asa relied on his own wisdom and attempted to buy Baasha's favor with stored up wealth that had been accumulated. He used his own wealth, but also removed the treasuries from the House of the Lord, trading in what was God's for the ungodly. Unfortunately for Asa, his plan seemed to work, furthering his departure from trusting in the living God.  Baasha quit building at Ramah, and Judah carried away the materials they had been using to build.

Verses 7-14, “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: 'Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.' Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign. They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.”

Asa’s heart was not soft toward God, therefore He sent a seer to give him a message of strong rebuke. Often if we would hear from God directly, there would be no need for others to come along to rebuke us. God was not happy that Asa chose to rely on a man over relying on Him. He did not weigh out Asa’s deeds on a scale comparing good ones to bad ones, and go soft on him. God judged him for his unbelief and removed His protection from Asa, telling him that from now on there would be wars. Eventually his body would also be afflicted with a disease in his feet.

The story of Asa should speak to all of us. Just because we start the race strong in faith, doesn't mean we are guaranteed to finish that way. Relying on your flesh is sometimes a slow process of falling away, that can happen without you even noticing. Because God knows sees all, He tells Asa that He wanted to deliver him from Syria, an enemy that Asa did not know he even had. This is why we do not rely on our own understanding because it is limited. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

In the last chapter when Asa received a message from God, he was encouraged to do what was right, confirmed their covenant with God for obedience, and cleaned up the land. This time Asa received a message from God, he was angry and put the seer in prison for speaking against him. He did not want to receive the truth because his heart was hard. We need to humbly receive God's word, which has the power to save us from Hell. James 1:21, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

If you find yourself unable to receive correction, but instead despise it and the messenger, pray for forgiveness and a change of heart. The benefit of the correction to us is peaceable fruit of righteousness, and knowledge that we are His children. Those who reject correction are simply not legitimate children of God. Hebrews 12:5‭-‬8‭, ‬11, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons...Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”