2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 25: The LORD can give much more

Begin in prayer

Before you read about Amaziah and the army he hired, ask God to teach your family that He is able to give more than anyone loses by obeying Him. Ask Him to show you Christ.

Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

Psalm 37:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are able to give much more than we could lose, and lead us to Jesus, Your greatest gift. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Amaziah begins to reign at twenty-five, and he does right in the LORD's eyes, but not with a perfect heart. He hires one hundred thousand soldiers from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. A man of God tells him not to let them go with him, because the LORD is not with Israel. Amaziah asks about the silver, and the man of God answers, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.” Amaziah sends the army home, and Judah wins in the Valley of Salt. Afterward he sets up the gods of Edom and bows to them, a prophet warns him, and he will not listen.

As you read 2 Chronicles 25, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD has power to help, and He is able to give much more than the silver Amaziah gave up.

Amaziah did right in the LORD's eyes, but the text says it was “not with a perfect heart” (verse 2). He hired a hundred thousand soldiers from Israel for a hundred talents of silver (verse 6). A man of God told him to send them home, because the LORD was not with Israel (verses 7 and 8). Amaziah worried about the silver he had already paid (verse 9). The man of God answered, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this” (verse 9). That was a word to one king about one loss, and the text does not say what the LORD gave. It says only that Amaziah obeyed and Judah won (verses 10 to 13). After his victory, Amaziah brought home the gods of Edom and bowed to them (verse 14). So the LORD's power to give is plain, and it is no promise that obeying brings money.

How does 2 Chronicles 25 show us that the LORD has power to help, and that He is able to give much more than the silver Amaziah gave up?

The man of God told Amaziah to send Israel's army home.

Amaziah hired one hundred thousand mighty men out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver (verse 6). A man of God told him not to let them go with him, because the LORD was not with Israel (verse 7). He said God has power to help and to overthrow (verse 8). Amaziah asked what he should do about the silver he had given (verse 9).

The LORD is able to give much more than the silver.

The man of God answered, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this” (verse 9). Amaziah sent the army home, and they went back in fierce anger (verse 10). He took courage and led his people to the Valley of Salt (verse 11). The text does not say what the LORD gave in place of the silver.

Amaziah turned to the gods of Edom, and the LORD was angry.

Amaziah brought home the gods of Edom, set them up and burned incense to them (verse 14). The LORD's anger burned against him, and He sent a prophet (verse 15). Amaziah would not listen, and went to war with Israel (verses 16 and 17). Judah was defeated, and the treasures of God's house were taken (verses 22 to 24).

God gave Jesus, His own Son, and with Him He gives all things.

Paul says God gave up Jesus, His own Son, for His people (Romans 8 verse 32). He says that with Him God will freely give them all things (Romans 8 verse 32). The silver Amaziah feared to lose was small beside this gift.

Memorise

Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.

2 Chronicles 25:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, is my heart divided, and will I ask Jesus to forgive me?

A man of God told Amaziah, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.” God gave up His own Son for His people. Paul says that with Him God will freely give them all things (Romans 8 verse 32). Jesus is the greatest gift God has given.

Amaziah gave up silver and still bowed to idols, and our hearts are divided too. Sin cannot be bought off. At the cross Jesus paid for His sheep with His own life, fully and once for all. He rose from the dead on the third day.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and will have God Himself as their treasure.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD has power to help, and that God gave His own Son. Parents, please do not make this a promise of money, and explain verse 12 on captives thrown from a rock gently. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His great gift, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.

Psalm 31:21

Father, thank You that You are able to give more than we can lose. Thank You for Jesus, who gave His life for sinners and rose again. Please teach each of us to leave our sin and trust Him. Amen.