The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded to confront Asa immediately following his military triumph. This occurred around 896 b.c. during the fifteenth year of Asa's reign. Azariah delivered a stark reminder that Israel had long been without the true God, a teaching priest, and the law. Asa took courage from these words and removed the abominable idols from the land, repairing the altar of the Lord that was before the porch of the temple.

Know God. We perceive a God who is readily accessible but demands reciprocal loyalty. The prophet declared that the Lord is with us when we are with Him, promising that He will be found if we seek Him. In light of this, we understand that God does not hide Himself from those who are earnest, yet He will withdraw if He is forsaken. He is a Rewarder who strengthens the hands of those who do not let their courage fail.

Bridge the Gap. Asa faced the excruciating task of removing his own grandmother, Maacah, from her position as queen mother because she had made a repulsive image for Asherah. This demonstrates that spiritual integrity often comes at the cost of relational comfort. Because of this truth, we recognize the difficulty of upholding standards within our own families when loved ones drift into error. We are reminded that our loyalty to God must supersede even the deepest earthly bonds.

Take Action. We can take a bold inventory of our homes and habits to ensure no "family idols" have taken root. This might mean having a difficult conversation or changing a long-standing tradition that no longer honors the Lord. Consequently, we enter into a renewed commitment to seek the Lord with all our heart and soul, just as the people did in Jerusalem. We find that the result of such decisive clearing away of debris is often a profound season of rest.