“Crossroads”
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
2 Chronicles 14–16; 1 Kings 15:8–16:34
Although King Asa’s legacy is not free from failure, he nevertheless distinguished himself as a committed follower of God.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
OVERVIEW
King Asa of Judah was one of the “good kings”—but even he was far from perfect. When he trusted God, God took care of his country, protecting them from enemies from every direction. But when Asa tried to solve problems without God, God withdrew his protection—and Asa responded with rage and oppression.
When invaders attacked from a distant country, Judah’s King Asa threw himself at God’s mercy, knowing it was a problem only God could solve. But when King Baasha of the northern kingdom of Israel tried to prevent anyone from crossing the border between Israel and Judah (2 Chronicles 16:1), instead of turning to God for assistance and wisdom to solve the problem, directly addressing the issue, King Asa made an alliance with Syria.
King Baasha’s border fortifications were evidently inspired by the great numbers of people who migrated from Israel to Judah during Asa’s reign “when they saw that the Lord his God was with him” (2 Chronicles 15:9). Israel and Judah were “sibling” nations that were never meant to be divided.
While God doesn’t promise to fix all of our earthly problems if we faithfully follow Him today, He does promise to bless us and be near us. This week’s lesson is an opportunity to explore what it means to trust in God, and how our choices—and where we put our spiritual trust—help shape our lives.
OPENING ACTIVITY: ROLEPLAY
Let’s explore how we can respond to situations in our own lives that need to be addressed directly rather than in a round-about manner.
Depending on the size or dynamics of your class, you may want to divide your students into two groups, or just have the class discuss the situations in turn. If possible, have your students act out one or more of the following scenarios, role-playing how they respond as the individual characters.
2. Caleb, Pedro, and Larissa are working on a group project together for history class. Pedro is frustrated because he feels like Caleb and Larissa aren't doing anywhere near as much work on the project as he is.
3. Sofia and Gabe have been dating for six months. Sofia’s mom feels they’re getting too exclusive, and one evening she sits her daughter down to talk about it. (This could just as easily be an intervention of the boy’s parents.)
4. Whether it’s sports, videogames, or what his family supposedly did on vacation, Brandon is sick of his friend Jack constantly trying to one-up him. One day, when it happens again, Brandon tries to address it head-on—only for Jack to tell him he’s just jealous.
DISCUSSION
TRANSITION
The arc of Asa’s life is all too common in the Bible—and in modern life.
When we tell the story of Gideon, we usually stop after he’s defeated the Midianites—and skip the part where he makes a priestly garment out of gold and leads Israel into idolatry (Judges 8:22-27). God blessed David’s incredible faith when he fought Goliath, but condemned his census of the country’s fighting men, as it betrayed his faith in God’s protection. Solomon was the wisest man ever, but his alliances with other countries helped tear the nation apart.
In life today, it’s easy to just strive, hustle, and work, work, work, trying to keep ahead of the game in our own power. It’s reassuring to know that we can put our trust in God, counting on Him to solve our problems.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read 2 Chronicles 14:2-13.
Battle Lines
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. j 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest.
7 “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.
9 Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”
12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.
DISCUSSION
Read 2 Chronicles 15:1-9.
Warning
The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.
Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
DISCUSSION
Read 2 Chronicles 16:1-10.
Silver and gold
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 3 “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. 6 Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites l and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
Read 1 Kings 16:29-33.
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.
DISCUSSION
APPLICATION
Consider:
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
This narrative provides a comprehensive and intricate account of the reign of King Asa, painting a multifaceted portrait of a monarch whose early piety and trust in the Lord gradually gave way to flawed decision-making and a departure from divine guidance. The chapter opens with an inspiring narrative of Asa's initial success, where his reliance on God's intervention leads to a victorious campaign against the Ethiopians. The portrayal of Asa as a faithful leader is underscored by the subsequent period of peace and prosperity enjoyed by the people of Judah. The narrative captures the essence of Asa's early reign as one marked by a profound commitment to God and a strategic understanding of the power of divine favor.
However, the story takes a somber turn when Baasha, the king of Israel, launches an offensive against Judah. In a surprising departure from his previous reliance on God, Asa chooses a pragmatic approach, entering into an alliance with the king of Aram and utilizing treasures from the temple to secure this partnership. This strategic shift underscores a wavering in Asa's faith, a departure from the unwavering trust in God demonstrated earlier in his reign.
The prophet Hanani enters the scene, serving as a divine messenger who confronts Asa about his misguided reliance on human alliances and failure to seek God's guidance. Hanani's rebuke is met with an uncharacteristic response from Asa, who reacts with anger and imprisons the prophet. The narrative takes a darker turn as Asa engages in oppressive actions against some of his own people, highlighting the consequences of straying from a path of humble reliance on divine wisdom.
The later years of Asa's reign, briefly touched upon in the chapter, reveal the ramifications of his earlier decisions. Asa faces a foot disease, and despite seeking physicians for help, there is a poignant commentary on the irony of a king who initially relied on God's healing power now turning to human remedies. The chapter concludes with Asa's death, leaving a legacy that is a blend of triumphs and pitfalls.
“Faith Strong!”
What was the time in your life you exhibited the strongest faith?
Read 2 Chronicles 16:1-14.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
2 Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 3 “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
4 Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. 6 Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites l and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
10 Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
11 The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. 13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.
1. What initially marked King Asa's reign as success and divine favor?
2. What strategic decision does King Asa make when faced with an attack from Baasha of Israel?
3. Who confronts King Asa for not relying on God and delivering a rebuke?
4. How does King Asa react to the rebuke from the prophet Hanani?
5. What does King Asa use to secure the alliance with the king of Aram?
6. In his later years, what affliction does King Asa face, and what remedy does he initially seek?
7. What elements of your faith are strong?
8. How well do you think God can trust you to make wise choices for His glory?
SUMMARY
Overall, 2 Chronicles 16 serves as a cautionary narrative about the consequences of forsaking unwavering faith in God for human alliances and the potential pitfalls of responding to spiritual rebuke with pride and oppression. God expects us to have implicit trust in Him and in times of our misdeeds, we ought to display humility and seek God for His grace and mercy. Today, we have such a great opportunity to learn from this story and become better Christians, trusting God always, and with contrition of spirit walk in His grace.
APPLICATION
In 2 Chronicles 16, the reign of King Asa, offers a poignant exploration of the dynamics between faith and leadership. Initially celebrated for his reliance on divine guidance in overcoming the Ethiopian threat, Asa's later decisions reveal a lamentable departure from his earlier piety. The consequences that followed were very difficult for the king to bear.
Below, find some application activities to interface with this lesson. These are simply to provide ideas for you, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact the lives of teens for God’s glory.
