Success yields insight into character.

King Amaziah, who saw himself as a warrior, won a great victory through the intervention of the Lord. But upon his return from the battlefield he committed a breathtaking transgression.

When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them! This made the Lord very angry…

Amaziah apparently never heard the old adage to dance with who brung you. He changed partners after the battle and never recovered.

Why commit such an egregious act smack in the face of God? Amaziah was either dumb as a rock, or filled with staggering pride. I have a feeling it was a combination of both. After a whiff of success Amaziah believed he was Napoleon Bonaparte and George Washington rolled into one. Needing help Amaziah mouthed devout words, but when danger passed Amaziah left the true God.

The scriptures tell us God was determined to destroy Amaziah for turning to the false gods. Amaziah never repented and was later put down by assassins, ending a reign that started strong but quickly sank.

I find it easy to lose the Lord in the midst of success. But the absurd decision by Amaziah reminds me check my pride. Any success I experience originates from the hand of God. Stick with the Lord because he is great.

And me? Not so much.

2 Chronicles 25 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ardian Lumi