2 Chronicles 16:1

2 Chronicles 16:1 says, In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.  After Asa had reigned thirty-six years, Baasha king of Israel came against him.  Matthew Henry says this was likely the thirty-sixth year of the existence of Judah as a separate kingdom, since we are told elsewhere that Baasha died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa's reign, but it adds up correctly from the beginning of the split between Judah and Israel.  This was some of God's chosen people fighting against others of God's chosen people, and we as Christians, God's chosen people today, should never be guilty of doing the same thing.  Baasha built Ramah to try to keep anyone from going to and from Asa.  We as followers of Christ certainly should never attempt to keep others from coming to Him.  Verse two adds, Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,  Asa then sent the treasures from the house of the Lord to Benhadad, King of Syria.  We also should never attempt to buy the protection of the world with the things of God.  Verse three continues, There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. Asa asked Benhadad to break the league he had made with Baasha and remember the one that his father had with Asa's father.  He also said he had sent the silver and gold to show that he supported Benhadad.  We need to pray that we never have to make a pact with non-Christians, especially to the point of giving them things that are dedicated to God, to keep from being destroyed by others who profess to be Christians.  We need to be united in our battle with the world and not fighting each other.  Verse four states, And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.  Benhadad agreed to join with Asa and sent his armies against Israel and defeated several of their cities.  We need to rely on God alone to give us victory in the world, and I believe if Asa had called on God that God would have given him the victory if that was God's will, and if it weren't, it would have been a hollow victory.  If we compromise with the world to gain success instead of relying on God, our success will be hollow.  Verse five adds, And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.  When Baasha heard what was happening, he stopped his work on building Ramah.  Asa had won the victory with the help of Benhadad, but he had given away the gold and silver that belonged to God.  We should never give the things of God to those who aren't His people in order to gain victory over others who are a part of God's people, and both Judah and Israel were still a part of God's chosen people.  Verse six continues, Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.  Asa took the stones and timbers intended to be used to build Ramah and built Geba and Mizpah.  He was profiting materially by his alliance with Benhadad, but he had given away the treasures of God from the temple.  We may profit materially from an alliance with the people of the world against our fellow believers, but we will never profit spiritually.