Asa's Story | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Asa's Story | Previous Challenge Entry
By Katrina Angle
08/07/14
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Asa’s Story
The air was thick with tension. I forced myself to breathe, in and out, as the trembling messenger stood before me. He was panting with fright, perspiration dripping from him, as he waited for my command. He swayed on his feet as if his legs would no longer carry him, so I waved for an attendant to help him find a comfortable cushion to recline upon while I formulated my reply. As thoughts swirled dizzyingly in my head, I could see dark shadows lurking in the corners, taunting me. Black spots danced before my eyes, and I felt as if I would faint. My physician must have thought so too, for he rushed to my side and attempted to hold me upright.
“Pull yourself together, your majesty,” one of my trusted advisers leaned in to whisper, “you must not show any weakness.”
I could see the panic on the faces in the courtroom, and knew that he was right. I, King Asa of Judah, must show no fear. I must be strong for my people. I gave my message for the captain of my army to the refreshed messenger and sent him with Godspeed.
Later, in my private chambers, an argument festered as my advisers, the captain and the head wise man hurled ideas and opinions at each other as if they were spears. I could feel their terror and I knew that I was succumbing to it myself.
My adviser turned to me. “Your majesty, we must ask Israel for help. We will never survive if we take on the Ethiopians without allies.”
The wise man stood abruptly, thrusting his fist in the air as he shouted, “Israel bows to idols! We will surely fail if we make an alliance with them.”
The captain interrupted him. “I have laid out a strategy that is sure to succeed. Your majesty, we can take them on ourselves.”
My adviser scoffed at him. “You must be out of your mind! The Ethiopians outnumber us three times, not to mention that they have chariots and we do not. We will look like fools if we fight them ourselves.”
Back and forth they went, tugging me to the right and to the left until I was so confused that I could not think straight. My temples throbbed and the muscles in the back of my neck tightened so that I could hardly turn my head. I staggered to my feet and leaned my fists on the table.
“Enough!” I ground out. “We will send out our troops first thing in the morning. I will make no further decisions tonight.” I waved them away. “Leave me. Take what rest you can. You will need it.”
All night I tossed and turned. The dark shadows that had before lurked in the corners now stood on either side of my bed. “Doomed! Fools! Hopeless!” The whispered chanting became so loud that I could not bear it any longer and I jerked to a sitting position and called for a light; anything to make the darkness go away. As the servant placed the lamp on the mat beside my bed, something leaning against the wall opposite me caught my eye. A scroll.
Suddenly, memories of priests reading the Holy Scriptures flooded my mind and instantly the dark shadows that had been tugging me back and forth, left and right, fled.
“God is my fortress and my strength, my help in times of trouble,” I whispered as I threw on my robe. I strode toward the double doors that led to my balcony and thrust them open. Raising my hands to the heavens, I lifted my eyes and my voice to the Creator of the stars that sparkled in the black sky.
“O Lord,” I cried, “no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” (2 Chronicles 14:11 NLT).
God heard my desperate prayer that night, and the Lord and His army went before the army of Judah and defeated the Ethiopians. I learned an important lesson too. Without consulting God and asking for his help before anything else, confusion came and doubts swayed me right and left. When I focused on God and his power, everything fell into place. Praise His Holy Name!
A footnote to the reader: This fictional story is based on the amazing true story told in 2 Chronicles 14.

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