Anything and anyone, but not God

 2 Chronicles 28

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• Summary

This chapter records the life of King Ahaz of Judah, son of godly king Jotham.  Ahaz came to the throne when he was 20 years and only reigned 16 years but in that time Judah was invaded time and time again: 

• the Syrians defeated them and carried away a great multitude captive
• the Israelites defeated him, killing 120,000 in one day including the King's son, his governor and Elkanah, who was the king's right hand man, and took 200,000 prisoners and much spoil
• the Edomites defeated them and took prisoners
• the Philistines invaded and dwelt in cities in the South of Judah
• the Assyrians weakened Judah.

We are told that all these disasters were a direct result of their sins against God:

• Ahaz 'did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD...he walked in the ways of the king of Israel', made 'images for Baalim', burnt incense and sacrificed his children by fire, and worshipped in all the pagan places on the hills and under the trees (Verses 1-4)
• 'they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers' (verse 6)
• the LORD is angry with them (verse 9)
• the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz leading them into sin and greatly breaking God's laws (verse 19)
• he provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers (verse 25)

Despite this, we see God's mercy in speaking to a prophet in Israel called Oded.  He instructed the Israelites to release the Judean prisoners because God had given them the victory and they weren't any better than the Judeans, and their proposed use of them as slaves would incur God's wrath on the Israelites too.

• Thoughts

What struck me during this account was how 'in the time of his distress' Ahaz turned to the gods of Syria.  He said,

"Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they might help me".  The verse concludes, 'but they were the ruin of him, and all Israel'. (verse 23)

Ahaz knew he was in trouble - he was in distress - he wanted help.  He looked at those around him.  The Syrians seemed to be successful so he decided to follow their worship - and he appears to have been very zealous in his worship, both now when he has alters built in 'every corner of Jerusalem' and throughout his life, when he sacrificed his own son.  It was as if he was determined to worship anyone or anything but God.  This seems strange when we consider the initially godly reign and example of his father.  

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Doesn't this speak to us of our naturally rebellious nature against God and the need for the Holy Spirit to work in us and turn us to him?  My Pastor* often tells us of the time in his rebellious years when he shouted at the top of his voice, 'I will not have this man reign over me!'.

You remember how the Apostle Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the early Christians and Jesus stopped him with a blinding light from heaven saying, '...it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks' (Acts 9:5).  As if Paul knew deep down he was doing wrong but refused to acknowledge it and perhaps even had a drawing towards the Lord but was suppressing it - we don't know.

And can't we see this in ourselves in a more subtle way too?  Does it speak of an inner need and void which we try to fill with work, hobbies, entertainment, food, drink, exercise, self-help, meditation, mindfulness and more?  When unhappy or upset, do we do everything we can to comfort ourselves, or do we remember, 'Our Father, which art in heaven...', and tell him all our troubles and need of help?  

Sadly we don't even read of God sending any messages to Ahaz through his priests or prophets.  It was as if having totally turned his back on what he had been brought up to, that God was silent - and yet, he wasn't silent!! No - he was showing Ahaz through all his troubles that he was rejecting God, but Ahaz didn't acknowledge it.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4 the Apostle Paul speaks of those 'in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not'.

Let us pray to God to keep our eyes opened and looking unto him, so that when we get too bogged down in our problems we may realise we have a great God to turn to - that we might be like King Jehoshaphat in his time of need, 'O our God....neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee' (2 Chronicles 20:12).

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We have seen many times in Chronicles how the Lord is gracious to forgive and help those who come to him with genuine hearts.  Let us turn to him, and ask him to help us return to him and his ways with all our being, and thank him for his great love and kindness in promising to not cast away all those who come to him (John 6: 37).

*Mr Jabez Rutt of Lamberhurst Strict Baptist Chapel, Kent UK.