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2 Kings chapter 3 records a very interesting story, and as I read it this morning, I found three important messages in this one particular passage of Scripture. These will be the subject of the next three Saturday devotionals, and we invite you to join us today and for the two upcoming Saturdays for, "The Moabite Insurrection"!
To set the stage, despite the fact that Jehoram was Ahab's son and was brought up under the reign of the wicked Jezebel who brought Baal worship into Israel, the Bible records that although Jehoram did evil in in the sight of the Lord, it was "...not like his father and his mother; for he removed the memorial stone of Baal which his father had made." (2 Kings 3:2 NASB). As he took over the rule of the land, however, the Moabite people, who had been paying a hefty tribute each year to his father, saw Ahab's death as a prime opportunity to stop paying this tribute. Naturally, Jehoram was not in agreement with this, and he proceeded to assemble an army made up of three different kingdoms: His own Kingdom of Israel; his neighbour to the south, the Kingdom of Judah; and his neighbour across the Jordan, the Kingdom of Edom.
Today's lesson begins with a problem that Jehoram and the other kings encountered before they even arrived in Moab... As the large army entered its seventh day of the march, “…there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them." (2 Kings 3:9 NASB). Jehoram became ... thirsty! And as Jehoram's thirst worsened, he became discouraged: "Then the king of Israel said, 'It is hopeless! For the Lord has called these three kings to hand them over to Moab!”' (2 Kings 3:10 NASB).
Jehoshaphat, who had the distinction of being known as one of the godly kings of Judah, was quick to jump in: " Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” (2 Kings 3:11a NASB)
Isn't it sad that Jehoshaphat was the only one asking for a true prophet of the Most High God? Yet after its years of idolatry, especially the paganism that was brought in by Baal worship, why would the son of Ahab and Jezebel even think of seeking the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
It was soon identified that there was, indeed, a man of God in their midst: “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” (2 Kings 3:11c NASB) and Elisha was brought forward. It is safe to say, however, that Elisha wasn’t exactly happy about the circumstances, for his opening remarks openly chastise the king of Israel: "What business do you have with me? Go to your father’s prophets and your mother’s prophets.” (2 Kings 3:13a NASB)
Jehoram's response is interesting: “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.” (2 Kings 13b NASB).
How is it that a king who so blatantly serves false gods would have the audacity to say, "the Lord has called these three kings together"? Let's just say that the ultimate in deception is that we become so deceived we don't even recognize that we are in the wrong!
Elisha's response to Jehoram's claim that the Lord brought the three kings together is powerful: "Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, if I did not respect Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.'" (2 Kings 3:14 NASB). And herein lies the vitally important lesson for today!
Wait. Did you miss it?
I get it, it is a little hidden. But when Elisha said it was only out of respect for Jehoshaphat that God would respond at all, he is teaching us an important truth: When we do not follow God or obey His ways, we cannot expect for God to give us guidance, blessing and protection! If we truly want God's guidance, we must humble ourselves before Him, for God says clearly, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6b NASB)!
Are you in need of guidance? Maybe you are so entrenched in sin that you don’t even realize you aren’t serving God fully, or maybe you’ve never given your heart to Him at all. Don’t expect for God to guide–or protect or bless you–unless you are fully sold-out to Him. Humble yourself before Him, repent of the wrong you have done, let Jesus' blood redeem you of your sin, sell yourself out to Him. Only then will God's guidance pour forth, and when it does, you can be prepared for a serious miracle! Please join us next week for, The Moabite Insurrection, Part 2.
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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