April 18 - 1 Kings 15-17: Keeping All Your Options Open

For 20 years after the death of Solomon, Judah is led by wicked kings, and the people are out of control, setting "new records in sin, surpassing anything their ancestors had done." (14:22) But out of respect for David, God graciously gave [Abijah] a lamp, a son to follow him and keep Jerusalem secure. (15:4)

• Asa conducted himself well before God. (15:11)
• He cleaned house. (15:11)
• Asa spared nothing and no one; he went so far as to remove Queen Maacah (15:13)
• He was well-intentioned - his heart was in the right place, in tune with God. All the gold and silver vessels and artifacts that he and his father had consecrated for holy use he installed in the Temple. (15:15)

Although he revived the way of his ancestor David (15:11), Asa was no David. He wasn't a man after God's own heart.

Unfortunately, he didn't get rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. (15:14)

And one of the last stories we're told about Asa is how he handled the threat from Baasha, king of Israel:

Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of The Temple of God and the royal place, gave it to his servants, and sent them to Ben-Hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Tezion king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, with this message: "Let's make a treaty" (15:18)

Asa looked pretty good on the outside, obeying many of God's commands. He certainly was the most obedient king Judah has seen in awhile, But when push came to shove, his heart was revealed. Rather than look to the God of Israel and trust Him for protection, Asa rushed to make a treaty with a pagan king, going so far as to give away the holy gold and silver vessels from The Temple as payment.

And it seemed to work; Ben-Hadad distracted Baasha so that Judah was able to fortify their cities. But did it really?

"Your desire to be effective, to depend on biblical principles for success in your family, church, career, and friendships is legitimately strong. But when the desire is stronger than your desire to be holy and to depend on My power for becoming more like My Son, whether you succeed or fail in other ways, then you will not advance My plan, no matter how carefully you follow My principles or how much apparent success you enjoy. And you'll be especially vulnerable to serious sin... 

Without the hope of holiness filling your soul, the need to fill yourself with something will lead to compromise will seem necessary, even wise." 66 LL

This story spoke to me today in my circumstances. Our adoption is weighing on my heart and mind as everything is so unclear and uncertain. We can only speculate as to when our next child will join our family because we have no answers. It wears me out emotionally. It makes planning difficult. And both Harry and I are ready for that little one in our arms.

Although we are absolutely certain that God has called us to adopt from Africa, I've been very tempted to take matters into my own hands. It hasn't helped that two moms in our daughter's preschool class had babies this week. We started the adoption process long before they were even pregnant. (I confess that thought has been spinning around in my head all week.) Recently, I blurted out to Harry that we should just go ahead and have another baby since we don't know if/when the adoption will be completed. In the moment, it seemed necessary and even wise. I mean, we aren't getting any younger here, are we??

Yet I know that would be disobedient. I'm prioritizing my need to fill myself with something over God's desire for me to be holy and to trust Him with everything in my life. Even when it's really hard. Even when I want things my way, in my timing.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.  James 1:2-8