Today’s Reading: 1 King 22; 2 Chronicles 18
In today’s reading, Ahab, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah are trying to determine whether to go to war with Syria. In their decision making process, they call upon 400 of king Ahab’s prophets to help them discern whether they would win. All of the prophets told them to go, “for the Lord will deliver it (Syria) into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:66). Jehoshaphat wasn’t convinced by these prophets so he asks Ahab if there was another prophet they could ask. Ahab tells Jehoshaphat about Micaiah who is a profit of the Lord; however, he admits that he hates him because he never has a good prophesy for Ahab. Jehoshaphat wants to hear what he has to say so Ahab summoned him. Micaiah tells the kings not to go to war with Syria. He tells them of a vision he had where the spirit convinces God to allow him to corrupt the other prophets so that they will lie to Ahab. This makes Ahab angry so he has Micaiah arrested.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat ignore Micaiah’s warning and go to battle anyway. On the way, Ahab tells Jehoshaphat that he should dress like royalty while Ahab disguised himself and enters the battle. As they approached Syria, Jehoshaphat gets attacked but once he convinces them he is not Ahab they leave him alone. In the meantime, Ahab–who was hiding in the battle to avoid Micaiah’s prediction–gets shot with an arrow and dies.
Today’s Nourishment:
Figuring out the right path to take is no easier today that it was during Ahab’s time. Instead of 400 prophets, we have the internet. And, like Ahab, if you search long enough you can find everything you need to rationalize to yourself the decision you wanted to make in the first place. While God will not guide us in the wrong direction, he will allow the devil to try and trick us into doing something that is not in accordance with God’s plan. This is what happened to Ahab. Ahab’s prophets were telling him what he wanted to hear…not what God wanted him to hear. Even when God’s message was delivered to him–in great detail I might add–he chose to ignore it.
How many times have you ignored God’s message? How often do we get so caught up in what we want, that we miss what God wants?
My encouragement for you today is that you seek out God when you find yourself at a fork in the road and don’t know where to go.
Tomorrow’s Delight: 2 Chronicles 19-13
Hugs & Blessings,
Monica
https://www.facebook.com/wholelottasomethin
There are many times we face forks in the road and need to seek the Lord and hear what He is saying. Oh Lord, let mr hear you today.
It is so true that we miss the good things God has for us because of our own selfish desires in choosing what we want instead.God’s word teaches us that if we seek Him we shall find Him. Father, help us when we come to that fork in the road that we choose the right direction which is Your way that leads to the good things You have for us!