Zerah the Ethiopian

 

 

2 Chronicles 14:9-15

 

July 3, 2023

 

Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots and came as far as Mareshah.  And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.  And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name, we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”   So, the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.  Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil.  And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.  And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem

 

The second Zerah in the Bible appears in a single verse in 2 Chronicles 14:9: “Zerah the Cushite marched out against [King Asa and the army of Judah] with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.” Historians speculate that this Zerah the Cushite (also called an Ethiopian in some versions) may be Usarken II, the third king of Egypt after Shishak. He may have been born in Ethiopia and married into the royal family of Egypt, thereby inheriting the throne; or he may have invaded Judah after passing through Egypt with the pharaoh’s blessing. Another possibility is that this Ethiopian Zerah was a nomadic leader of Arabians, associated with the Midianites (see Habak).  Taken from (Got Question)

 

Asa may have learned from his great-granddad David that the Lord would fight the battles if one would humble themselves and look to him.  Many people who say they are followers of Jesus, often attack their adversary with the tools this world uses and go down in defeat.  The first question a follower should ask is, is this a battle You want me in, and if so will you fight for me?  

 

The Scripture is clear that in weakness we find our strength; 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 ESV, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Church of the United States of America will say praise the Lord to the words of Paul, but most have not suffered insults, hardships, or persecutions, will that be your tone when they come, I believe they are coming.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice