How can Asa's example guide our approach to health and spiritual reliance today? Asa’s Health Crisis in a Single Verse “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and the disease became severe; yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.” (2 Chronicles 16:12) Remember How Strongly Asa Once Trusted God – 2 Chronicles 14:11: “Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, ‘LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty… for we rely on You.’” – 2 Chronicles 15:15: “They had sought Him, and He was found by them…” At the start of his reign Asa prayed first, acted second, and God brought victory and peace. The Drift: From Reliance to Self-Sufficiency – 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 shows Asa paying a pagan king for military help. – The prophet Hanani warns: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God…” – By verse 12 that same misplaced trust spills into the medical arena: he leans solely on doctors, never on God. What Scripture Teaches about Health and Trust • The Lord heals—Psalm 103:3; 2 Kings 20:5. • Wise treatment is welcome—Luke 8:43; 1 Timothy 5:23. • But ultimate confidence belongs to God—Jeremiah 17:5-8; Proverbs 3:5-8. • Prayer is integral—James 5:14-15. Doctors and medicine are gifts; they must never replace the Giver. Practical Takeaways for Today • Begin every health decision with prayer. Report symptoms to the Great Physician first, then to human physicians. • Seek capable medical help without surrendering spiritual dependence. • Guard against gradual drift; trust can erode quietly through success, age, or busyness. • Cultivate a heart “fully devoted” (2 Chronicles 16:9) so God can “show Himself strong” on your behalf. • Let bodily weakness remind you of daily spiritual need. Illness can prompt deeper surrender rather than frustration. Verses to Keep Close – Psalm 103:2-3: “Bless the LORD, O my soul… who heals all your diseases.” – Proverbs 3:5-8: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… it will bring healing to your body.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD… He will be like a tree planted by the waters.” – James 5:14: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him…” – 2 Chronicles 16:9: “The eyes of the LORD roam to and fro… to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” Asa’s feet failed, but his greater failure was spiritual. Our call is to keep our hearts—and our health—in the Lord’s hands first and always. |
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