Asa's Apostasy (2 Chronicles 16)

Can a reformer turn back to apostasy? Is it important to remain faithful to the end? Let’s begin in 2 Chronicles 16.

Rather than continue relying upon God, who did Asa turn to in the end?

During the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and interdicted Ramah by building fortifications around it so no one could enter or leave to join King Asa of Judah. But Asa removed some silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and from his royal palace and sent them to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who lived in Damascus. “Let’s make a treaty between you and me,” he said, “just like the one between my father and your father. Notice that I’ve sent you silver and gold to break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he’ll retreat from his attack on me.” (2 Chr 16:1-3 ISV)

Did Asa’s betrayal of God seem to benefit Judah at first? Does sin sometimes seem good for a while?

And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. (2 Chr 16:4-6 KJV)

Did a prophet rebuke Asa for trusting in somebody other than God? Did Asa persecute the seer?

Now at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have leaned on the king of Aram and have not leaned on Yahweh your God, therefore the military force of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a vast military force with an exceedingly vast number of chariots and horsemen? Yet because you leaned on Yahweh, He gave them into your hand. For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” Then Asa was vexed with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. (2 Chr 16:7-10 LSB)

Is it better to be faithful to the very end rather than end our lives in apostasy?

Now, the acts of Asa from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa lay down with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign. They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the city of David, and they laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him. (2 Chr 16:11-14 NASB)

Is keeping the faith to the very end an important part of our Christian pilgrimage?

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22 NIV Mat 24:13)

Can a reformer turn back to apostasy? Is it important to remain faithful to the end? You decide!