Lilly: Me too. I'm also happy about the three-day weekend, to be honest.
Dodger: Naturally! Who wouldn't be? Anyways, I'm glad we're all here together again. I found something interesting the other day. Have you ever heard of San Jose, California?
Lilly: Oh, you mean in Silicon Valley? Sure, I've heard of it. Why?
Dodger: Well, according to what I read recently, in 2012 it had a population of almost 1 million people, making it the tenth largest city in the United States.
Lilly: That's a pretty astounding number.
Dodger: You're right. You know, if I had to go against the entire city of San Jose in a water balloon fight I'd probably lose.
Lilly: Wait, what? You lost me there.
Dodger: Oh, sorry. I was just saying that the city population would make an unstoppable water balloon fight team.
Lilly: I still don't quite understand.
Dodger: Well, here's what I mean. Have you ever read about King Asa, of the kingdom of Judah?
Lilly: I'm not sure I have.
Dodger: Well, he holds a pretty high distinction.
Lilly: Really? What kind?
Dodger: He was a good king.
Lilly: Huh?
Dodger: Well, in his day, the kingdom of Judah was sort of getting started. It had already had a bad king, and it would have many more who would disobey God and break His laws. So Asa was a bright light in the history of Judah.
Lilly: Alright, but I still don't see what that has to do with water balloons...
Dodger: I'm getting there. You see, while Asa was being a good king God blessed the nation with safety and ease. Look at 2 Chronicles 14.
"Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest. Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor." (2 Chronicles 14:2-8 NKJV)
Lilly: Sounds like he was in good shape.
Dodger: You're right, until the entire city of San Jose came after him with water balloons!
Lilly: Wait...hold on. There aren't water balloons in the Bible.
Dodger: You're right. I was just trying to illustrate an example. Actually, the nation of Ethiopia came after Judah with one million soldiers for war. Their commander was Zerah, and he had not only men, but also 300 chariots. (v. 9) Keep in mind that Judah only had 580,000 in their army, so they were seriously outnumbered. So Asa went to battle.
Lilly: Oh, dear! Well, what did Asa do? He didn't get angry with God over the disaster, did he? After all, he may have wondered why God would let such a thing happen when the nation and the king were serving Him.
Dodger: You needn't worry, Lilly. Asa made the right decision. Here's what he said:
"And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” (2 Chronicles 14:11 NKJV)
Asa wasn't counting on a disaster at all. He trusted God to get him and the nation through this.
Lilly: That was wise.
Dodger: Yep, and it worked! Read for yourself!
Lilly: "So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the Lord and His army. And they carried away very much spoil." (2 Chronicles 14:12 NKJV)
Dodger: They also defeated some other cities. God gave them a great victory, not only protecting them, but even giving them more than they originally had!
Lilly: Wow. So in other words, when we're serving God, and circumstance or even the devil comes and threatens to take us out, we can rely on God not only to take care of us and keep us safe, but to grant us total victory and make us better than before!
Dodger: That's right! Pretty neat, huh?
Lilly: It sure is. Anyways, I've gotta run.
Dodger: So soon? Why?
Lilly: Well...
.......
Dodger: Of course you realize that THIS MEANS WAR!
Lilly: Yep, I figured! Hey, thanks for coming by today! See you!
Dodger: Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change. Now excuse me while I chase Lilly down with the hose.
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
Animated balloons from http://cdn0.dailydot.com/uploaded/images/original/2012/3/11/rainbow_water_balloons.gif
Population of San Jose from http://www.citymayors.com/gratis/us-census2000.html
"Lilly's Balloon" by I-BulldogStudios, and containing elements from Microsoft Clip Art and http://s717.photobucket.com/user/prestonjjrtr/media/Smileys%20Holidays/April%20Fools/water_bomb_2_text.gif.html
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