{"id":4787,"date":"2019-09-05T20:00:39","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T03:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=4787"},"modified":"2019-09-01T21:19:20","modified_gmt":"2019-09-02T04:19:20","slug":"2chronicles_18_1-34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/2chronicles_18_1-34\/","title":{"rendered":"When You Ask God for Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"

2 Chronicles 18:1-34\u00a0\u00a0Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

\n

Today\u2019s passage is 2 Chronicles 18:1-34.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 18:3 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 1-3:\u00a0\u00a0This chapter is full of irony.\u00a0\u00a0The first irony is that Jehoshaphat, one of the godliest kings in Judah\u2019s history, becomes allies with Ahab, possibly the wickedest king in Israel\u2019s history.\u00a0\u00a0Their alliance came by marriage when Jehoshaphat\u2019s son Jehoram marries Ahab\u2019s daughter Athaliah.\u00a0\u00a0This alliance would prove to be a huge mistake for Jehoshaphat\u2019s family, one that would cause much pain and suffering for his family and the nation of Judah.\u00a0\u00a0The first proof that this alliance was a mistake was here when Ahab influences Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead, something God did not want Jehoshaphat to do.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0Be careful whom you partner with.\u00a0\u00a0When you partner with someone who does not trust the Lord, the chances are high that that partner will lead you to do things that do not please the Lord.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 18:6 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the\u00a0LORD\u00a0here whom we can inquire of?”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 4-7:\u00a0\u00a0Before Jehoshaphat fully commits to Ahab\u2019s plan to attack Ramoth Gilead, he advises Ahab to first seek the Lord for guidance.\u00a0\u00a0Ahab brings together 400 prophets, most likely prophets that worshiped the idol Baal since Ahab and his wife Jezebel were devout Baal worshipers.\u00a0\u00a0The 400 Baal prophets in unison say that God will give Ramoth Gilead into Ahab\u2019s hand.\u00a0\u00a0Jehoshaphat, however, insists that he and Ahab consult a prophet who worships the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0Ahab, who was famous for killing the prophets of the Lord, says that there is still one prophet of the Lord left — Micaiah son of Imlah \u2013 but that he hates Micaiah because he never prophesies anything good about him.\u00a0\u00a0But at Jehoshaphat\u2019s insistence, they summon for Micaiah to prophesy.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0When you ask God for guidance, be open to God giving you directions that are different from what you want to hear or what you have planned.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Otherwise, why are you seeking God\u2019s counsel in the first place?\u00a0\u00a0If you\u2019re only looking for God to rubberstamp your pre-set plans, then are you really following the Lord, or are you just erroneously expecting the Lord to follow and bless whatever you have already decided to do?\u00a0\u00a0Blessed are those who are humble enough to let God say whatever He needs to say, and who order their lives around what He says.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 Chronicles\u00a018:13\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But Micaiah said, “As surely as the\u00a0LORD\u00a0lives, I can tell him only what my God says.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 9-13:\u00a0\u00a0Despite being pressured to approve Ahab\u2019s plans, Micaiah insists that he can only prophesy what God tells him to prophesy.\u00a0\u00a0Like Micaiah, may you be more concerned about pleasing God and being faithful to Him than pleasing people or gaining a dishonest advantage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 Chronicles\u00a018:27\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n27\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the\u00a0LORD\u00a0has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”
\n<\/em>
\nOn verses 14-27:\u00a0\u00a0When Ahab asks Micaiah whether he should attack Ramoth Gilead or refrain, at first Micaiah sarcastically repeats word for word what the prophets of Baal have been saying.\u00a0\u00a0Sensing Micaiah\u2019s sarcasm, Ahab asks again, and Micaiah shares a vision that he saw.\u00a0\u00a0This vision was meant to show that the prophets of Baal were being influenced by a lying spirit and that God\u2019s plan was actually to have Ahab die while attacking Ramoth Gilead.\u00a0\u00a0Both Ahab\u2019s charismatic chief Baal prophet Zedekiah and Ahab himself respond with anger.\u00a0\u00a0Zedekiah slaps Micaiah and Ahab puts Micaiah in prison.\u00a0\u00a0Despite Micaiah\u2019s warning, Ahab and Jehoshaphat proceed with attacking Ramoth Gilead.
\nWhat can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When you receive a word from the Lord that is not what you want to hear, you have two choices.\u00a0\u00a0Your first option is to ignore that word, disparage the messenger who sent it, and do whatever you want to do anyway.\u00a0\u00a0Your second option is humble yourself, ask the Lord to search your heart, and seek His help even more to make the right decision.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Unfortunately for Ahab, Ahab chose to ignore God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n

2 Chronicles 18:33-34 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n33\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.”
\n34\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 29-34:\u00a0\u00a0Ahab and Jehoshaphat attack Ramoth Gilead.\u00a0\u00a0To avoid being recognized, Ahab disguises himself when he goes into battle.\u00a0\u00a0Nevertheless, someone (we aren\u2019t told who exactly, maybe a rookie soldier) draws his bow at random and hits King Ahab right in between the sections of his armor, wounding him fatally.
\nWhat can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You can try to run and hide from God, but you can\u2019t.\u00a0God\u2019s sovereign plans will always end up catching up to you.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Interestingly Ramoth Gilead was originally a \u201ccity of refuge\u201d, that is, a town where a person could flee to safety if he unintentionally killed someone (see Deuteronomy\u00a04:43).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ironically, someone unintentionally kills King Ahab while he is trying to attack this city of refuge.\u00a0\u00a0It reminds me that\u00a0Jesus is our city of refuge, the one we run to for safety when we sin.\u00a0\u00a0If we insist on trying to attack that city of refuge, we will be the ones who end up getting hurt.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Heavenly Father, may I be careful not to partner with those who don\u2019t trust in You.\u00a0\u00a0May I be humble to welcome You speak, even if it means hearing something I don\u2019t want to hear.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus, thank You for being my city of refuge, the One I run to.\u00a0\u00a0Rather than attacking You, may I be a faithful defender of You.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

      Today\u2019s passage is 2 Chronicles 18:1-34.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

      2 Chronicles 18:3 (NIV)\u00a0
      \n3\u00a0\u00a0Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

      On verses 1-3:\u00a0\u00a0This chapter is full of irony.\u00a0\u00a0The first irony is that Jehoshaphat, one of the godliest kings in Judah\u2019s history, becomes allies with Ahab, possibly the wickedest king in Israel\u2019s history.\u00a0\u00a0Their alliance came by marriage when Jehoshaphat\u2019s son Jehoram marries Ahab\u2019s daughter Athaliah.\u00a0\u00a0This alliance would prove to be a huge mistake for Jehoshaphat\u2019s family, one that would cause much pain and suffering for his family and the nation of Judah.\u00a0\u00a0The first proof that this alliance was a mistake was here when Ahab influences Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead, something God did not want Jehoshaphat to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0Be careful whom you partner with.\u00a0\u00a0When you partner with someone who does not trust the Lord, the chances are high that that partner will lead you to do things that do not please the Lord.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4787"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4790,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4787\/revisions\/4790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}