"And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace." (from 2 Chronicles 18)
This particular set of verses always tickles me when I read it. Micaiah sounds a lot like me - cynical, always looking at the negative side, maybe a little sarcastic. I know he isn't, for he is merely listening to the voice of God and prophesying what God tells him to say. Go back and read this whole passage - it is both entertaining and enlightening.
The point I would like us to consider today is the attitude of the King. He sent for Micaiah knowing he would likely prophesy against what he really wanted to do. But notice one thing, he already knew what God was telling him on the inside - don't go after this enemy - but all of his "prophets" and friends were telling him what his flesh wanted to hear.
It's funny how people don't respect you as a Christian. They make fun of you, tell jokes that belittle you to their friends or your co-workers, treat you like less than a human. Yet when life hits them hard (as it always will), they know who to come to for prayer. They'll say things like, "Put in a good word for me with the Man Upstairs." Or, if they are really desparate, they will even let you pray with them in person.
When Micaiah came to the king and heard the words of the other 400 prophets, he went along with it (just for sport) because he knew that's what the king wanted to hear. Yet when the king confronted him, he then gave the true prophesy of God in this matter. The king knew what God's will was, but he wanted to confirm it with the only person he knew listened to God.
The same is true with you and me. We are either the ones wanting to hear from God and needing confirmation or we are the confirmer for someone else. Be careful, my friend, who you listen to and take advice from. Make sure they are a true man or woman of God, then pay heed to their words. Likewise, always be careful to speak the true words of God to those seeking advice from you. Listen for that still, small voice inside - the whisper of the Spirit - and follow faithfully His leading.
That is my challenge to you today. It is easy to follow the crowd and do what everybody else is doing. It is even easier to want to satisfy my flesh - to do what my pride or my lust wants. But it is life-giving and life-saving to follow the words and the will of God. Especially when that results in my flesh being subdued. Today I challenge you to listen for the voice of God in some matter you are facing. Seek counsel, gather advice, but always seek confirmation of the path you already sense God wants you to take.
Be blessed.
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