Bible Study - Living (2) - Depend on GOD - 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 - July 28, 2019

Bible Study – Living (2) – Depend on GOD – July 28, 2019


This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “Living A Godly Life in an Ungodly World.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 14:9-15.


GOD is greater than any challenge we face.


Our ending scripture from last week’s lesson was an assessment of the size of the army available to King Asa:


Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14:8:

The Cushite Invasion

⁸ Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14:9 - ⁹ Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300^[c] chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.

In this week’s study, we read scripture that gives us a comparison of the two armies. Clearly, the Cushites outnumbered Asa’s army. But when GOD is your commander in Chief, numbers do not matter but faith does.

So, who were the Cushites? The Cushite people were Ethiopians, also known as Nubians. They lived south of Egypt but were a distinct nation from the Egyptians. They were mercenaries and as such, at times, they fought for the Egyptians. In time, they would rule all of Egypt. However, at the time Asa was king, they were hired by the Egyptians to fight King Asa. The Cushite’s had larger numbers and possible resources than Asa’s army. But what did King Asa have that the Cushites did not have?

As Christians, who do we have that our enemies do not have? It is our faith in GOD through our faith in JESUS. At times, GOD allows us, as HIS Children, to face seemingly unsurmountable issues to test our faith. At the same time, it builds our faith in HIM and HIS sufficiency.

What had King Asa been doing for the ten years before the Cushite army marched toward King Asa?

In last week’s lesson we read: Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14:1-2:

^1 [a]Abijah (Ah bi jah) rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.

King Asa experienced 10 years of peace. What did he do during these ten years? 2 Chronicles 14:

-         ^2 [b]Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

-         ⁶ Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the Lord gave him rest. ⁷ So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side.” So, they built and succeeded.

-         King Asa prepared for the potential for war.

As Christians, the LORD gives us times of rest. How are we to use that time? Do we take a vacation from reading and studying GOD’S Word or get lazy about going to church or stop fellowshipping with fellow Christians? As Christians, we must continue to fortify our lives during the times of peace because a potential battle could be brewing. Satan’s goal is to wreak havoc in the lives of Christians. Christians are to suit up every morning and to be prepared for Spiritual battle.

Christians are fighting in the spirit world and that takes Spiritual weapons e.g. strong relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS suitable to do battle. Another weapon is GOD’S Word which is sharper than a two-edged sword, as recorded in Hebrews 4:12 - ¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Scripture memory is powerful and can be used in a flash. Christians can memorize scripture any time but especially during times of peace.

During the ten years of building and preparing for potential battle, they were also gathering goods. When the enemy thinks we have something of value, he attacks to relieve us of what we have obtained. Years of apparent ease can give the enemy the impression that we have grown weak.

This can trigger the enemy to attack and GOD can use it to reveal our faith ------

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14:9-11:

⁹ Then Zerah the Cushites came against them with an army of one million men and 300^[c] chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. ¹⁰ So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

It was clear that the Cushites had a larger army than King Asa plus 300 chariots. A million men versus 300,000 plus 280,000 men is close to half of the Cushite, well trained army. The Cushites were the hired guns of Egypt. The Cushites came as far as Mareshah, a city that King Asa had fortified along with other cities in Judah.

Mareshah was 25 miles from Jerusalem. A defeated Mareshah would have likely meant a defeated Jerusalem.

Rather than taking refuge in Mareshah, their fortified city, King Asa and his army marched out to meet the enemy head-on. That takes confidence. Where did King Asa get such confidence? He verbalized it as we read on.

So, when you are out numbered what do you do? King Asa, called out to GOD ----

¹¹ Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God: “Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name, we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.”

What did King Asa say to GOD? Did he say “Oh LORD, I am scared and unless YOU help us, we will be defeated?” No! He said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name, we have come against this large army. Yahweh, YOU are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.”

First, King Asa honored GOD by acknowledging that HE was their GOD and HE was the only ONE to help both the mighty and those without strength to not be defeated. King Asa asked for GOD to help them because they depended upon HIM. Their faith was in HIM and they were going to battle against an army larger than their army because of their faith in HIM. In essence, LORD our GOD help us because YOU are our GOD and we are stepping out in faith because we are depending on YOU for victory. We have an army but we are mere mortals but I, as king, realize that YOU are our real strength.

King Asa cried out to the One True GOD, Yahweh with great faith in HIM and marched out against Zerah, which is faith in action.

When we face the battles in life, who do we turn to for strength, courage and guidance with great confidence? Often, we can look back and see that GOD has been working in our lives to build our confidence in HIM to be prepared for the issues that HE knows are coming our way. In whom do we place our faith and trust?

When our faith and trust is in GOD and we know that we have prepared, we march forward with great confidence. Our resolve is to Glorify GOD. Satan attempts to place road blocks as we journey through life but our faith in GOD through JESUS is greater than all Satan can bring against us. Do we, as Christians, believe it? During troubling times, we must keep our eyes upon JESUS and know that victory awaits.

So, how did this battle turn out?

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 14:12-15:

¹² So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. ¹³ Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So, the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. ¹⁴ Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the Lord was on them. They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them. ¹⁵ They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

The LORD sent the Cushites running scared in retreat. King Asa and his army pursued the Cushites all the way to Gerar until the Cushites were utterly defeated.

Consider that the Cushites had an army of 1 million men. We know that an army moves on its stomach. These men had to be fed and as such they had provisions which became the provisions, spoils or loot of King Asa and his army when they defeated the Cushites. They expanded their plunder to the cities in that area.

King Asa and his men then returned to Jerusalem. Victory is sweet but that is when we have to keep a careful eye upon ourselves. Who won the battle? We know GOD did but it is so easy for us to get puffed up and that is when self begins to raise its head.

Success is a time when Christians must keep a careful eye upon themselves and their relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. We can start feeling our own self-worth and self-sufficiency. Christians must keep their eyes upon JESUS and what HE has done through our faith in HIM. Blessings!!!