And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. — 2 Chronicles 25:9 (KJV)
King Amaziah faced a dilemma that resonates deeply with our modern struggles. He had invested significantly, one hundred talents of silver, to hire mercenaries from Israel to strengthen his army against Edom. From a strategic standpoint, it made perfect sense. More soldiers meant better odds of victory. Yet when God’s prophet commanded him to dismiss these hired warriors, Amaziah’s immediate concern wasn’t about military strategy it was about the waste in money.
“But what shall we do for the hundred talents?” he asked.
How often do we find ourselves asking the same question when God calls us to step away from our carefully laid plans? We’ve invested our time, our resources, our energy into strategies that seem logical and sound. We’ve done our research, calculated the odds, and moved forward with confidence. Then God’s voice cuts through our reasoning with a different direction entirely.
When Human Wisdom Meets Divine Will
Amaziah’s situation reveals a profound truth about the nature of obedience. Sometimes following God means accepting short-term loss for long-term gain. The king had used his wisdom and resources to solve what he perceived as a military problem, but God had a different plan — one that didn’t require hired help or human reinforcement.
This tension between our reasoning and God’s leading appears throughout Scripture. Consider how God instructed Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 to just 300 men (Judges 7:2-7), ensuring that victory would clearly belong to the Lord. Or how Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had, challenging not just his wealth but his self-reliance (Matthew 19:21).
The Danger of Self-Reliant Success
Our human tendency is to lean on our own understanding, to trust in our abilities and resources. While Scripture encourages us to work diligently “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) we must remain humble enough to allow God to redirect our efforts.
The question we must continually ask ourselves is this: Will our plans bring glory to God, or will they merely inflate our pride? As Isaiah reminds us, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). When our strategies become more about showcasing our wisdom than honoring God’s sovereignty, we’ve crossed into dangerous territory.
The Promise Beyond the Price
The man of God’s response to Amaziah holds a promise that echoes through the ages: “The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” This wasn’t merely about financial compensation it was about trusting in God’s abundant provision versus clinging to our limited investments.
When we obey God’s redirections, even at personal cost, we position ourselves to receive blessings that far exceed what we initially invested. This doesn’t always mean material gain, but rather the deeper reward of walking in alignment with God’s perfect will.
Practical Steps Forward
As we navigate our own moments of divine override, consider these principles:
Hold your plans loosely. Develop strategies and work diligently, but remain open to God’s course corrections. Our plans should be written in pencil, not permanent ink.
Count the true cost. Before investing heavily in any endeavor, pause to consider whether it aligns with God’s character and purposes. The most expensive mistake isn’t losing money it’s missing God’s best.
Trust God’s mathematics. When God calls you to step back from something you’ve invested in, remember that His ability to provide exceeds your ability to accumulate. His economy operates on principles of faith, not just finance.
Examine your motives. Regularly assess whether your pursuits are driven by a desire to glorify God or to build your own reputation. Pride has a way of disguising itself as wisdom.
The Invitation to Trust
Today, you may be facing your own hundred talent moment a time when obedience to God requires setting aside investments, plans, or strategies that made perfect sense from a human perspective. Take heart in knowing that the same God who promised Amaziah “much more than this” extends that same promise to you.
The Lord is able. These four words contain enough power to override any loss, redirect any plan, and provide beyond any investment we might surrender in obedience to His will.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. — Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)