The Cost of Abandoning a Wrong Course
MANY justify themselves in pursuing a wrong course, because they have invested their means in the enterprise and would lose much by refusing to go farther. Such may learn a lesson from the history of Amaziah king of Judah, recorded in 2 Chron. 25. In an expedition against the Edomites, he had hired a hundred thousand men of Israel for one hundred talents of silver, about $15,000. The prophet of God said to him, “O king, let not the army of Israel go with them; for the Lord is not with Israel. . . . But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle; God shall make thee fall before the enemy; for God hath power to help and to cast down.” But said Amaziah, “What shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” And God gave Amaziah victory without Israel. God’s blessings will always be upon those who honor him, and his blessing is worth all earthly riches.