The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 3:10,
"'What!' exclaimed the king of Israel. 'Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?'"
What a hoot!
Moab was subject to Israel as long as Ahab was king. But when he died, his son, Joram became king and Moab rebelled. In response, Joram got Jehoshaphat, king of Judah to help him, and together with Edom they set out to fight Moab. En route, they ran out of water and so the advance against Moab sputtered.
Here is the part that I find so entertaining about the account. No where is there any mention that either Joram or Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord about the advisement of attacking Moab. God's covenanted people were pretending they were anything but God's covenanted people.
What convinces me they had not "checked in" with the Lord was Elisha's response when he was called in for consultation (after the decision was already made and they had already launched!). Elisha, as God's man, responded, "Why do you want to involve me?" A little late to be too concerned about what God thought about it.
"'What!' exclaimed the king of Israel. 'Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?'"
What a hoot!
Moab was subject to Israel as long as Ahab was king. But when he died, his son, Joram became king and Moab rebelled. In response, Joram got Jehoshaphat, king of Judah to help him, and together with Edom they set out to fight Moab. En route, they ran out of water and so the advance against Moab sputtered.
Here is the part that I find so entertaining about the account. No where is there any mention that either Joram or Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord about the advisement of attacking Moab. God's covenanted people were pretending they were anything but God's covenanted people.
What convinces me they had not "checked in" with the Lord was Elisha's response when he was called in for consultation (after the decision was already made and they had already launched!). Elisha, as God's man, responded, "Why do you want to involve me?" A little late to be too concerned about what God thought about it.
Yet... (and here it gets rich), "What!... Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?" Yep... Joram and Jehoshaphat, who didn't seem to care about inquiring of the Lord now appear to be incredulous at their failure as Joram attempts to claim the Lord called them to attack! What a ruse for avoiding responsibility! The Lord gets credit for the failure! As the account continues, we see the Lord does bail out these kings, but certainly not because they had committed their plans to the Lord, Proverbs 16:3.
My entertainment in the passage only wanes as I consider how often I have heard so many in my day claim the Lord had called them to do this or that when they have left me scratching my head... really??? I've heard parents of families claim the Lord called them to do this or buy that or whatever that only revealed an astonishingly irresponsible decision.
You see, when it is claimed the Lord called someone to do something, it is assumed they are the only ones privy to the "calling" and therefore beyond the purview of family and friends to question. I don't know how many times I have seen responsibilities abandoned due to "the Lord called me!"... only to see utter failure in ministry and mission with the accompanying damage done to a family. I have seen spouses leave their marriages, I have seen the most irresponsible purchases made, I have seen parents leave their jobs with no income in sight... all because "the Lord called me to do this!"
I have learned long ago that "being called by the Lord" most always is used as a ploy to cover for an irresponsible and indefensible decision, a ruse to maintain credibility within family and fellowship.
I just don't buy it any more. If someone advances an otherwise indefensible and irresponsible decision with me to gain my support, claiming the Lord "called them" they best be prepared to explain why the Lord is asking them to be irresponsible and to violate so many of the principles of wisdom he has really provided us in the Scriptures to help in our decision-making.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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