Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones. 15 In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. 2 CHRONICLES 26:14-15 [NASB].
It’s like God putting this passage in front of us and saying : “see how much I can help you if you believe in me”. Everything He wrote in the Bible is an example to us. God gave Uzziah amazing help. That is what we saw here in the life of Uzziah. We must recognize that it was God who provided all those who needed to stabilize the kingdom and miraculously helped Uzziah. There is only one main reason, which we see in the Bible, God has this: He sought the Lord God. The Bible says: He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him. 2 CHRONICLES 26:4-5 [NASB]. He says,” I don’t need a bigger reason than that.”
David expressed the same principle. He realized that God loved those who depended on him. The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in princes. PSALMS 118: 7-9 [NASB]
In other words, God is telling us this: “Why put faith in human beings? Are not they just like you? Is my power high or human? I will never like it. Ask me, I can send someone to help you. I am the one who will help you. I’m a trustworthy God. You can trust me in all situations. If you depend on human beings they may or may not help you.Thus you may suffer. But because of me, you will always benefit. I will do amazing help if needed.”
Let’s look at this issue in one passage from the Bible: In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.” 4 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.
Now God is watching over what Asa does. Maybe God thought so: “You already have my help. For now I will not change. And what are you doing now? Have humans helped you before? I will teach you something. Not you but my people need to understand this. You shall not rely upon men; Believe me I am omniscient.” We know that the king of Syria helped Asa. He seems to have seen success in his endeavors. But God sent his prophet and told Asa the words of his heart. Read this passage: At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” 2 CHRONICLES 16:7-9 [NASB]. Here we can understand how God would suffer if human beings did not depend on Him. Not only that but God’s plans also seem to be missing in our lives.
Also read this passage: Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The [bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’” 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah. 1 KINGS 17: 8-17[ NASB]
God gave the widow’s home a wonderful help. She just wanted to eat some food and die. But notice the amazing help God has done.God is teaching a lesson here. What would have happened if she had not made a small bread to that godly man Elijah? It was God who gave her the opportunity to get help here. This is where God laid down a principle. Maybe this’s how God thinks: “Did you think we could eat some food and die? Look now. I give a chance. My help comes to you. If you give to the people of God who came in my name it is same as you have done to me. You will see for yourself how I will protect you and your family throughout this famine. Give it to my servant. You will see what help I can give you and that servant.This is a way to get amazing help on.” That is why the Bible says: For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:41[NASB]. This is exactly what has happened in her life.
From the above discussion, we can understand three things:
- Seeking God always can bring us an experience of God’s great care and wonderful help from the Lord.
- God loves it if you depend on Him rather than on men, because it does not please our God. We will surely see His amazing help if we rely on Him.
- He will never forget the small help(s) we have done in His name, and He will do us amazing help.