2 Chronicles 25

The Explanation

There was once a king. He was young, and his name was Amaziah. He lived in a big city with high walls. That city was called Jerusalem. Amaziah wore a crown on his head.

One day Amaziah wanted to go out and fight. So he needed soldiers. He counted them all. It was a huge crowd of men, with spears and shields. But Amaziah wanted more. So he paid money. Lots and lots of silver money. And a hundred thousand more soldiers came.

Then a man came walking down the road. He was a man who listened to God. He came right up to the king. And he said: "King, send those extra soldiers home again. God is not with them. God is strong. God can help you."

Amaziah looked worried. "But my money!" he said. "All that silver! I already paid it."

The man said quietly: "God can give you much more than that."

And Amaziah listened. He really did. He sent all those soldiers home. Then he went out to fight, with God. And he won.

What Does This Mean?

Amaziah came back home. But he brought something with him. Statues. Stone statues from that faraway land. He carried them into his house. He set them up. And then he bowed down low, with his face to the floor.

Oh, that was sad. Those stone statues could not see anything. They could not hear anything. They could not help anybody, not one bit. And God, who really had helped him, Amaziah forgot all about Him.

So God sent another man. That man asked: "Why do you bow down to those statues? They cannot help you at all."

But Amaziah did not want to hear it. "Stop talking!" he said. "Be quiet!" And he turned his back.

The Common Thread

First Amaziah listened. And it went well. Now he would not listen. And everything went wrong. The strong walls of his city broke down. The gold was carried away. In the end Amaziah had nothing left.

But listen. God kept on sending people who spoke His words. Again and again and again. God never stopped talking.

And later God sent His own Son. Jesus. Jesus told everyone about His Father. Jesus said: come to Me. Jesus is not made of stone. Jesus is alive. He hears you, and He helps you.

For You

Sometimes someone says something to you. "Come, take my hand." "Wait, that is too hot." Listening can be hard. You wanted something else!

God speaks too. His words are in the Bible. When Mama or Papa reads to you, you can listen. Then you may say: God, I hear You.

And you never have to bow down to stone. God is alive. He sees you. He loves you.

Talk About It

Amaziah did not want to listen anymore. Is listening hard for you sometimes?

Those statues could not see or hear. What can God do that stone cannot?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank You that You talk to me. Help me to listen. You are alive, and You are strong. And You love me. Amen.