2 Chronicles 18:18-22
A prophecy from Micaiah, from whom good prophetic words never came regarding the ruler Ahab, King of Israel.
Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.
The LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this while another said that.
Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'How?'
He said, 'I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He said, 'You are to entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.'Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, for the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.
Most of us might have heard that God works all things together for good for those who's hearts are His, but what about for those who's hearts do not seek Him? Do we assume that He works all things together for good for them as well? What do you think about this verse, which displays God not only allowing, but initiating the doom of King Ahab of Israel?
This one is so hard! I have no idea what to think about God initiating the doom of Ahab.... except that even under temptation, Ahab could have chosen to do good (i.e. really heed God's word.)
ReplyDeleteIt isn't God's fault that we fail under temptation, though it's easy to blame God for allowing us to be tempted in the first place.
I believe that God brings disaster on all of us sometimes (even those whose hearts are His) in order to teach us things... I have found myself really resenting these "disasters" in the short run, though they may actually prove helpful in the long run. Maybe those who are against God now will turn to him during or after one of their disasters... we can only hope.
That's what I was thinking too Karen - that is was a test of Ahab and that he didn't actually have to fail, but did anyway!
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