Rev. Don Campbell
1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 29, 2019
“HAVE IT YOUR WAY”
God treats people according to their own character: “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd” (Psalms 18:25-26, NLT). When a person—or nation—insists on its own will and way instead of God’s, he will say, in effect, “Okay, have it your way.”
Ahab, king of the northern kingdom of Israel sought an alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of the southern kingdom of Judah. The plan was to take back the land the king of Syria had captured. Jehoshaphat was unwilling to go into battle until he knew the plan pleased the Lord. Ahab assured him that 400 prophets had said, “Go.” Jehoshaphat seemed suspicious: “Is there not another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire” (1 Kings 20:7). There was one named Micaiah, but Ahab hated him because he never prophesied good concerning him. Micaiah was summed and warned that the 400 prophets had endorsed the mission, suggesting that he should do the same. Micaiah made it clear that he would speak only the word of God. When he was asked, Micaiah also said, “Go.” Ahab knew either by Micaiah’s tone of voice or some other nonverbal sign that Micaiah was speaking sarcastically and insisted that Micaiah tell the truth. When he did, Ahab complained to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” (1 Kings 22:16). Micaiah then told them how he had seen a vision in which God would put a lying spirit into the mouths of the false prophets. Ahab ordered him to be put into prison on bread and water until he returned from the battle. He did not return.
Some may have a problem with God’s sending this lying spirit, but remember, Ahab and the prophets had already made up their mind. God simply said, “Have it your way.”
We now read from the pen of the apostle Paul: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
When an individual or nation insists on their own way in spite of the evidence, God will say, “Have it your way.”
CONNECTIONS
1. Christina Bechhold, confounder and managing director of Enterprise Angels (a venture capital fund), says, “Pure optimism is poison, and the most savvy leaders seek out contrarian opinions to keep themselves and their businesses in line.” Is this less true of churches and nonprofits?
2. Can people be so loyal to their church, their political party, their favorite preacher, etc. that they find it impossible to believe the truth and brand all opposing narratives as fake news?
