[Plate showing war plane fly-over].

No human scheme can prevent God’s will:

But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armour.  The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting.  I’ve been wounded.” – 2 Chronicles 18.33

Micaiah prophesised death for Ahab (18.16, 17), so Ahab disguised himself to fool the enemy. Apparently the disguise worked, but that didn’t change the prophecy.  A random Aramean arrow found a crack in his armour and killed him.  God fulfils his will despite the defences people try to erect.  God can use anything even an error, to bring his will to pass.  This is good news for God’s followers because we can trust him to work his plans and keep his promises no matter how desperate our circumstances are.

(BATTLE WITH ARAM King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with evil King Ahab of Israel. Together they decided to attack Ramoth Gilead and rout the Arameans who had occupied the city.  But Jehoshaphat first wanted to seek the advice of a prophet.  Ahab’s prophets predicted victory; but Micaiah predicted defeat.  The two kings were defeated, and Ahab was killed

• Aram
• Mediterranean Sea
• Sea of Galilee
• Ramoth Gilead
• Israel
• Samaria
• Jordan River
• Jerusalem
• Dead Sea
• Judah).

(‘   “So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets,’ he said.  “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ and the LORD.  ‘Go and do it.’ – 2 Chronicles 18.21.)

(‘ “Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.  – 2 Chronicles 18.22 God used the seductive influence of false prophets to judge Ahab.  They were determined to tell Ahab what he wanted to hear.  God confirmed their plans to lie as a means to remove Ahab from the throne.  These prophets, supported by Ahab, snared him in his sin.  Because he listened to them instead of God, he was killed in battle.  The lying spirit is a picture of the prophets’ entire way of life – telling the king only what he wanted to hear, not what he needed to hear.  Leaders will only find trouble if they surround themselves with advisers whose only thought is to please them).

(‘ When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him.  God drew them away from him.  – 2 Chronicles 18.31 Jehoshaphat’s troubles began when he joined forces with the evil King Ahab.  Almost at once he found himself the target for soldiers who mistakenly identified him as Ahab.  He could have accepted this fate because he deserved it, but instead he cried out to God, who miraculously saved him.  When we sin and the inevitable consequences follow, we may be tempted to give up.  “I chose to sin,” we may think, “it’s my fault, and I must accept the consequences.”  While we may deserve what comes to us, that is no reason to avoid calling on God for urgent help.  Had Jehoshaphat given up, he might have died.  No matter how greatly you have sinned, you can still call upon God).

(‘ He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.  Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you.  Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”  In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and to settle disputes.  And they lived in Jerusalem.  He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.  In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities – whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances – you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your brothers.  Do this, and you will not sin.  – 2 Chronicles 19.5-10  Jehoshaphat delegated some of the responsibilities [for your gold] for ruling and judging the people, but he warned his appointees that they were accountable to God for the standards they used to judge others.  Jehoshaphat’s advice is helpful for all leaders: (1) realise you are judging for God (19.6); (2) be impartial and honest (19.7); (3) be faithful (19.9); (4) act only out of fear of God, not men (19.9).  God holds us accountable for the authority we exercise).

(19.8 Jehoshaphat appointed priests and Levites to help in administering civil laws.  Many years earlier, Moses had chosen men who were capable, faithful, and honest to help him judge disputes among the people (Exodus 18.21, 22).  Obviously the best kind of leader is one who always acts with reverence for God.  Effective leaders get the job done; faithful leaders make sure the job is done in God’s way with God’s timing.  They are careful to instil God’s wisdom in future leaders and build God’s values into the entire community).

(‘ Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to enquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  – 2 Chronicles 20.3 When the nation was faced with disaster, Jehoshaphat called upon the people to get serious with God by going without food (fasting) for a designated time.  By separating themselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating, they could devote that extra time to considering their sin and praying to God for help.  Hunger pangs would reinforce their feelings of penitence and remind them of their weakness and their dependence upon God.  Fasting still can be helpful today as we seek God’s will in special situations).

(‘ and said: “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no-one can withstand you.  – 2 Chronicles 20.6ff Jehoshaphat’s prayer had several essential ingredients.  (1) He committed the situation to God, acknowledging that only God could save the nation.  (2) He sought God’s favour because his people were God’s people.  (3) He acknowledged God’s sovereignty over the current situation.  (4) He praised God’s glory and took comfort in his promises.  (5) He professed complete dependence on God, not himself, for deliverance.  To be God’s kind of leader today, follow Jehoshaphat’s example – focus entirely on God’s power rather than your own).

©Don’t Drink From THE Cup