2 Chronicles 15-16 – DON’T ASSUME
Some time ago I heard the story of a fire, of which, a newspaper photographer needed to get close pictures. His newspaper agreed to line up a plane for him at a local airport. When he arrived at the airport, sure enough, a plane was there. He jumped in and yelled “take off”! The pilot did.
Once in the air, the photographer yelled to the pilot to make two or three low passes over the fire. The pilot asked “Why?”. He answered, “Because I’m a photographer! Photographers take pictures. I’m going to take pictures of the fire!”
The pilot replied with alarm, “You mean you’re not the flight instructor?!” Both men had made wrong assumptions. The photographer assumed that he was in the right plane. The pilot assumed the man was his flight instructor.
It is never good to make assumptions. The Bible warms against wrong assumptions in 1 Corinthians 10:12 and Hebrews 3:12.
King Asa, in our text, had been a Godly king (See 2 Chronicles 14).
However, he made the mistake of assuming he could do things that displeased God.
REVIVAL – 2 Chronicles 15
There was a turning back to God during Asa’s ministry. We see three ingredients of Revival.
1. God Speaks Vss. 1-7
2. God’s People Respond Vss. 8-14
3. God Blesses Vss. 15, 19
REVERSAL – 2 Chronicles 16:1-6
Instead of relying on God as he did in 2 Chronicles 14:9-12, Asa tried to rely on his allies. He assumed that his allies could help him and that he didn’t need God.
REBUKE – 2 Chronicles 16:7-9
God’s prophet tells Asa that he has does wrong.
REFUSAL – 2 Chronicles 16:10
Asa assumed he could do as he pleased, and in his own strength.
He persecuted God’s man, and refused to listen.
RESULTS – 2 Chronicles 16:12
Evidently, Asa still assumed he could do things in his own power. He stubbornly refused to call on God.