Sun.’s Devo - Chosen

Read: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14; Romans 9:1-24; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 20:1 When Abijah died, his son Asa became king and remained a good king for 36 years. He tore down all the occultist worship and commanded the people of Judah to follow the Lord’s commands. There was peace from his enemies for 10 years while he built up his army and fortified his cities. When his army was attacked by the Cushites whose army was twice their size, he cried out to the Lord. God defeated the Cushites for him and they took the plunder. God moved Azariah, a prophet to come and give the people His word. He told them that as long as they worshipped the Lord, he would cause them to triumph but if they abandoned the Lord, he would abandon them. He reminded them that whenever Israel was in trouble and cried out to Him, he saved them. During the dark times when it was not safe to travel and there was every kind of problem and unrest, it was God who was troubling them. But for them, they were to be strong and of courage because their work would be rewarded. This encouraged Asa to do more housecleaning and he removed idols from his land and the lands he had conquered. Many of the people from Simeon, Ephraim and Manasseh had come to live in Judah because they saw that God was with them. On that day, they sacrificed 7,700 animals and made a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. Anyone who did not agree would be put to death. God gave them rest from every side. King Asa deposed his grandmother Maacah. She was Absalom’s grand daughter that Rehoboam had married. She was also Abijah’s mother. She had built an Asherah pole which Asa cut down and burned in the Kidron Valley. In Asa’s 36th year King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and began fortifying Ramah so that people could not move freely between Israel and Judah. Ramah was a gateway between the two nations. Instead of seeking the Lord’s help, Asa sent gold and silver from the Temple treasury to Aram to bribe them to be on their side against Israel. It worked and they broke their covenant with Israel and made one with Judah instead. When Israel found out, they abandoned their project in Ramah and Judah used the lumber and materials to fortify other towns. But God was not pleased with Asa for asking Aram for help instead of him. He sent the prophet Hanani to tells him that because Asa did this, he would constantly be at war. He missed his chance to conquer Aram and now they would be a constant thorn in their side. Asa became so angry with Hanani that he put him in prison. He then began oppressing his people also. Three years later he got a foot disease and sought physicians. He refused to ask the Lord for help. He died two years later and was buried in the bed he made for himself…literally and spiritually. So sad that he ended that way. His walk with the Lord had became diseased like his feet. In Romans Paul explains that it is not the literal children of Israel that are his people, but the children of promise, the chosen ones. Isaac was the chosen one though Abraham had many other children. It is the same for us. But being a descendant of Isaac didn’t mean you were chosen. Jacob and Esau were Isaac’s sons but only one of them was chosen. He was chosen before he was born to be favored and loved. Our lives have been predestined and all we have to do is to agree with the choice. Esau and Pharaoh were examples of those who God chose to harden their hearts so that the ones he chose might choose to follow the Lord. God displayed his deliverance and favor on his chosen. Is this fair? God is the maker of all and has the right to show his anger and his power on whom he chooses. He is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined to destruction. He does this to make his glory shine even brighter through us who he chose to show mercy. Lord, how grateful we are that you chose us. It is beyond our comprehension but thank you. We humbly worship You as our Lord and Savour. Our lives are Yours.