It is sad to read how a leadership that started well ended badly.
King Asa's heart was loyal to God for thirty five of his forty year reign. Then in his thirty sixth year, he made a serious error of judgement.
For most part of his reign it was recorded that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like his great great grand-father, David. He banished perverted people from the land; he even removed his grandmother from being queen mother because of her idolatry worship. He commanded the people of Judah to seek God and to obey his laws and his commands.
Asa enjoyed a period of peace from his enemies because God gave him rest. Many people migrated from Israel to Judah when they saw that the Lord was with him.
Too much rest I guess made him forgot God to the extent that in the thirty-sixth year of his reign, when King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah, he felt that the king of Syria was his best bet.
Rather than seeking the Lord, Asa sought alliance with the king of Syria. He forgot how God had helped him with the Egyptians. He forgot how his belief and trust in God paved the way for his success. He forgot how he cried to the Lord and got his victory.
When the error of his ways was pointed out by a man a God, the king became a bully - he imprisoned the man of God and then began to oppress the people.
Leaders should not let the act of leadership take the place of continual fellowship with the Lord.
Leaders who do not seek the Lord will not end their leadership well.
Loyalty is a character trait desirable not only man to man but man to God. As leaders, where or how we start is not as important as how we end.
Leaders should not underestimate any problem they face. No problem is too small for God to deal with for us; beware of putting your hope in man before God.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet, even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. He died in the forty-first year of his reign.
What a sad end to a glorious beginning - Thirty five years of good and then six years of evil. When there is peace and prosperity, it becomes easy for leaders to start having a false sense of security and forget the Lord.
It is only God that can give peace - of the heart, in the body or in the land. The years of peace ended for Asa. Our world today is full of conflict; terrorist attack, nation to nation. Unless leaders turn their heart to God and remain loyal, sadly this will continue.
As a leader, in whom do you place your trust?
No comments:
Post a Comment