God's eyes range throughout the earth

There is a story that I love centering on one of the kings of Judah. It is the story of Asa, King of Judah. Asa was in the lineage of King David. There was David, then Solomon, then Rehoboam, then Abijah, and then Asa. He was a pretty good king, Scripture says he “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” At least most of the time.

Toward the end of his reign as king, Baasha who was king of the northern kingdom of Israel came against Asa. Instead of turning to the Lord for relief and help, Asa decides to hire Ben-Hadad king of Aram to help him fight Baasha.

Ben-Hadad turns Baasha away from the southern kingdom of Judah and King Asa, but it was not a victory for Asa. God sends Hanani the prophet to Asa with a message: “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. Were not the Cushites 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. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” [2 Chronicles 16:7-9 NIV]

For the eyes of the LORD range (some translations use the word roam) throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Today I am reminded that He is ever vigiliant, ever on the alert to prove Himself faithful to those who are His. His eyes roam the earth looking for times to strengthen His own who are in trouble, who are weak, who are worried or anxious.

That verse has always been one of my favorites from the first time I read it. I realize that I am to pray, and to study God’s Word, and to put on my armor to battle the enemy of my soul. But I also know that there are times in my life when I don’t have time, don’t have the foresight, don’t have the wisdom to cry out to the Lord for help. Things happen in a flash, I am blindsided by trouble, storms burst upon me without warning, in those times I am reassured that God’s eyes have been roaming throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. He is fully aware of my predicament, He is ready and present to provide everything I need to get through.