In the last chapter of 1 Kings, we find a story of a wise, yet stupid, king. His name is Jehoshaphat, and he is king of Judah, now separated from the rest of Israel. The king of Israel is Ahab, an evil king that did not do what God wanted...ever.
But one day Ahab and Jehoshaphat are sitting around, doing what kings do, playing checkers or, if they were in a good mood, four-square. Ahab asks Jehoshaphat if he'll join him in battle against a common enemy. Jehoshaphat agrees, but asks if they can seek counsel from God. Ahab calls in his puppet prophets, who encourage him to do whatever he wants. Jehoshaphat wisely asks if there is an actual prophet of God around to ask. There is, and this prophet spells out doom for this mission.
It is at this point in which I would love to know what Jehoshaphat was thinking. If you read 1 Kings 22, there are several warning signs for Jehoshaphat to back out of this alliance. If none of the other signs made him leery, then hearing a prophet from God actually spell out how bad this idea was should have done the trick. (Check out 1 Kings 22 to see how ridiculous this gets.)
Jehoshaphat joins in battle despite the warning signs and, despite a losing battle, escapes death. It surprises me, because Jehoshaphat was smart enough to seek God's counsel, but too dumb to actually take it.
It made me look inward. How often do I ask for God's wisdom to be poured into my life and my decision-making, but then I go and do whatever I want? I doubt I am alone in this, but too often we have our mind made up before we ever consider God's plans. And I would think God, at the very least, would be insulted at being an afterthought. Much more when His will is ignored.
Good idea: Getting God's wisdom on every aspect of our lives.
Better idea: Living out God's wisdom in every aspect of our lives.
But one day Ahab and Jehoshaphat are sitting around, doing what kings do, playing checkers or, if they were in a good mood, four-square. Ahab asks Jehoshaphat if he'll join him in battle against a common enemy. Jehoshaphat agrees, but asks if they can seek counsel from God. Ahab calls in his puppet prophets, who encourage him to do whatever he wants. Jehoshaphat wisely asks if there is an actual prophet of God around to ask. There is, and this prophet spells out doom for this mission.
It is at this point in which I would love to know what Jehoshaphat was thinking. If you read 1 Kings 22, there are several warning signs for Jehoshaphat to back out of this alliance. If none of the other signs made him leery, then hearing a prophet from God actually spell out how bad this idea was should have done the trick. (Check out 1 Kings 22 to see how ridiculous this gets.)
Jehoshaphat joins in battle despite the warning signs and, despite a losing battle, escapes death. It surprises me, because Jehoshaphat was smart enough to seek God's counsel, but too dumb to actually take it.
It made me look inward. How often do I ask for God's wisdom to be poured into my life and my decision-making, but then I go and do whatever I want? I doubt I am alone in this, but too often we have our mind made up before we ever consider God's plans. And I would think God, at the very least, would be insulted at being an afterthought. Much more when His will is ignored.
Good idea: Getting God's wisdom on every aspect of our lives.
Better idea: Living out God's wisdom in every aspect of our lives.
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