In the Second Chronicles, chapter sixteen, verse nine, God values those devoted to Him as He searches throughout the earth to mark all who love Him faithfully and identify themselves with His cause, as in Ezekiel nine, verses three through six. God does this strongly to support and bless such people in their righteous endeavors, their deeds of faith, and in times of danger, as in Exodus fourteen, verses fifteen to twenty, affliction, as in Genesis thirty-seven, verse thirty-four, Exodus two, verses twenty-three through twenty-five, or trials as in Genesis twenty-two, verses one through fourteen.
God distinguishes between those among His people whose hearts are completely His and those whose hearts split between Him and the world. This truth is in Christ’s evaluation of the seven churches in Revelation chapters two through three, where He contrasts the faithful overcomers with the lukewarm members of His churches, as in Revelation three, verses fifteen and twenty-one.
God governs the world in infinite wisdom. The creatures and all their actions are continually under his eye, and he exercises a most watchful providence over all those who sincerely commit themselves to his care, depend upon him in well-doing, and will not fail to protect them. Still, the upright and sincere believers desire and endeavor to know and do His will in all things. Such may be sure of his protection and aid and have all the reason in the world to depend thereon. A firm and lively faith in this brings us near to God and unites us to him.
However, a practical disbelief of it produces the contrary effect and is at the bottom of all our departures from God and double-dealing with him. Asa could not trust God and therefore made court to Ben-hadad, in which, as the prophet did foolishly, both acting against his interest and incurring the displeasure of God, who pronounced that from henceforth he should have wars, as a chastisement of his folly. It is foolish to lean on a broken reed when we have the Rock of Ages to rely on.