Seeking God’s Help First

From the story of King Asa of Judah, we can learn a lesson that directly applies to us today:

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. (2 Chron. 16:12)

From the context, it is clear that God wants us to seek His help for everything, even for disease in our feet. But so often, we don’t or won’t, and we instead seek to take care of our problems our own way.

This is true not just with physical healing but with pretty much everything else as well. In fact, we can even manage to do things our own way even while we are doing the very things that God Himself asked us to do. Huh? How is this possible? Let’s examine the story of Joshua and his capture of the city of Ai.

In Joshua 7:1-12, Joshua and the armies of Israel were pumped after just having captured the city of Jericho where God supernaturally toppled the walls for them. Fresh off their easy victory, Joshua and his army turned their sights to the nearby, tiny city of Ai. Thinking it would be a cakewalk to capture such a tiny city, especially when God had already previously told them to capture the entire land of Canaan including the tiny city of Ai, Joshua made two serious mistakes we can learn a lot from today:

1. Joshua did not consult with God again to specifically ask for His guidance anew that day before battle.
2. Joshua sent only a small portion of his army against the enemy, instead of leading his entire army into battle.

Notice their thought process going into battle:

When [Joshua’s spies] returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai. (Josh. 7:1-12)

Had Joshua specifically asked for God’s help that day prior to undertaking the work of God, Joshua would have learned that God had refused to bless them until serious sin in the camp had been rooted out. (A man named Achan had stolen merchandise that belonged to God.) After that sin in the camp was discovered and rooted out, Joshua learned that God did not approve of his prior battle plan of sending only a small portion of his army:

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king…” (Josh. 8:1-2)

In other words, even when we are doing the stated will of the Lord for our lives, we still need to consult with our God and Maker at every step of the way, every day, while doing so.

Now, let’s fast forward a number of generations to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, who faced the same situation that Joshua did many years before, though he got it right this time:

[King Ahab of Israel] asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.” (1 Kings 22:4-5)

Even though an enemy nation had occupied a city of Israel that God had previously given to His people, King Jehoshaphat of Judah still sought the counsel of the Lord afresh before attempting to do the will of the Lord.

In closing, read again with fresh eyes the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, while He walked on this earth:

[Jesus speaking] “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)

“All these things” means everything. Let’s make a point every day to put God first in our day and consult Him all throughout our day. God will bless and lead us as we do so.

Be blessed today in all you do in the Name of Jesus as you put God first in everything.