Askhole

From February 21, 2020

I saw a friend of mine post this and got a sermon idea. There are times we get irritated when someone asks our advice or opinion on a given matter and indeed do the exact opposite. Yet the Lord got frustrated with the people at the time who wanted to hear what he had to say, with no intention of carrying out His commands. We have a few passages Id like to look over

First after the Babylonians finally did invade Jerusalem and carry off most of the people as exiles due to prolonged rebellion and sin, the remainder of the people in the land asked Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord.

The scene unfolds like this: “Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.” Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.” Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. He said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’ “However, if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and so disobey the Lord your God, and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’ then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die. Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.’ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.’ “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” (Jeremiah 42:1-22)

Jeremiah basically says “Ok, if you really want to hear what the Lord says, be sure you do it, for after asking and knowing, if you still choose to do your own thing and disobey, this will be a serious mistake!!!”

Yet what do they do? Sadly, they decide to try to escape to the land of Egypt thinking that they will not have to deal with the Babylonians who God brought to discipline them as a nation for sinning, idol worship and their forsaking God’s ways!

When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them — Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’ But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.” So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered. They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women, the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes. (Jeremiah 43:1-7)

These people had the chance to obey one last time and humble themselves. The nation brought this on themselves and Jeremiah for many long years warned these stubborn people of the nation of Judah that the Babylonians would come take them captive. Yet they ignored Jeremiah most of his ministry. Eventually the King of Babylon comes and captures Jerusalem, the capital of Judah and takes most of the people prisoner back to Babylon. The King of Babylon leaves though some poor inhabitants of Jerusalem to work the land and allows Jeremiah to stay behind too!

Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. But Nebuzaradan left behind the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields. Jeremiah 52:15-16 – 

Which brings us to the scene where those left behind ask Jeremiah to ask God what to do. God basically said “Make the best of this situation I brought on you and serve the Babylonians, learn from the consequences and it will go well for you. Yet if you continue to rebel against me, things are going to get so much worse!”

And the unfortunate fact was, they choose to rebel until most of the rest of them left over were destroyed too.

Now we must learn the lesson readers. We always ought to be prepared to do what God shows us whether we feel it is “favorable or not”

We should not ask God what to do with the intention of not obeying it. Obeying God is always the pathway to His best for our lives. We are foolish to think our ways that are not on page with His will end us anywhere good or worthwhile! Though it’s not often easy, obeying God is always the best option.

When It’s “Too Late”

“So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.

Jeremiah 7:16 –

“Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. Jeremiah 11:14 –

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” Jeremiah 14:11-12 –

Interesting that three times in this book, The Lord says something unusual. “Do not pray for this people ot offer up any plea or petition for them.”

Was God saying that we should not pray sinners come to faith and repentance? Is it saying God does not want people to pray for revival. No, but it came to the point where it was too late to reverse what the Lord was planning on doing. His disaster was on it’s way and His punishment was decided.

I think there does come a point in nations and people where God says, “Enough, they are going to learn the hard way and suffer the severe consequences.” The Lord was not prohibiting prayers for repentance but rather, “do not ask me to spare this nation of the calamity I am going to levy on them- its coming and it wont be averted by praying”

There comes a point where individuals and nations cross that line and set themselves up to reap what they have sown.

God was saying “Don’t pray for my favor and blessing on this people- they are not willing to turn from the sins that prevent me from blessing them. They wont give up the wrongdoings that are bringing my curse- not blessing”

God will eventually exact punishment that cannot be altered. The Gospel is open thougb to individuals still. Even if a nation like this destroyed itself through stubborn rebellion, The Lord still offers hope to individuals who repent and do right

Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

Isaiah 3:8-11 –

The Lord basically says, “the wicked have nothing to look forward to since they are proud of sin and unwilling to repent, but encourage those who love me and do my will that it will go well with them- but woe to the wicked, they will be swept away in total disaster.”

Sin, Strife, Civil Wars And Lastly Captivity

For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver. Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works. It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt and take them captive. “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
Ezekiel 21:21-24 –

Sometime before the Babylonians attacked Judah and it’s capitol of Jerusalem, the King of Babylon here is shown trying to decide who he will attack, he had two choices, Jerusalem or the land of the Ammonites.

The King of Babylon then casts lots and Jerusalem shows to be the favorable first option. The men with the King of Babylon are skeptical and think it might not be a good idea. Yet the Babylonian king remindes his army that the people of Judah and Jerusalem no longer have God’s protection and favor. He reminds them that the land of southern Israel has betrayed the Lord their God and God would not intervene to help them at this point.

Sad reality, he was right. Even a pagan unbelieving king could see well enough to recognize God’s favor had departed from Israel and He was unwilling to protect them.

Often in OT times when God was with the people and the Kings of Israel and Judah did right, God would cause the surrounding nations to be at peace with them

The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
2 Chronicles 20:29-30 –

Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel. 1 Kings 22:41-44 –

Good kings like this seemed to have God’s favor in maintaining civility and peace with even nations that did not like them, but also there was not a bloody civil war and conflict with Israel in this period of time when Jehoshaphat was King.

Yet ungodly kings did so much to both heighten tensions between both kingdoms Israel and Southern Judah, not only that but the surrounding nations often attacked more regularly during the reigns of godless kings

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him. In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah —because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. The men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria. But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you. ” Then some of the leaders in Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those who were arriving from the war. “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.” So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria. At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners, while the Philistines had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth, as well as Soko, Timnah and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord. Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of help. Ahaz took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him. In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.” But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.
2 Chronicles 28:1-23 –

Ahaz caused conflict every where he turned and with all he interacted with, Edom, Assyria, Aram, and those surrounding pagan people’s. Yet also Northern Israel two attacks Judah and slaughters many in a rage. The Lord became angry at the Northern Israelites and told them that the only reason they won was God was not pleased with Judah but He was also very angry at the northern tribes too.

We see how sin of these two people groups who were all supposed to know God and His law, as well as their kings, were creating so many problems just through sin and turning away from the Lord.

It got every ugly all because they would not listen to the Lord or repent. We see the effects of this led to division, strife, bloodshed, attacks from foreign enemies and eventually being captives removed from their home lamd

Egyptian Roll Out- Seeking A Human Solution To A God Sized Problem

Pharaoh’s army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, ‘Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down.’ “This is what the Lord says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, ‘The Babylonians will surely leave us.’ They will not! Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down.” Jeremiah 37:5-10 –

Things were getting troublesome. Jeremiah kept warning them that the only way to see any good come or healing take place was to repent. Yet what do the people do, they send word to Pharaoh and his army in Egypt requesting aid. Pharaoh marches out and the Babylonians temporarily withdraw. Yet The Lord says, “The Babylonians will come back, your stalling the inevitable.”

-Such often is the human response when faced with crisis, many turn to human solutions that do not work at all or only temporarily stall things but leave no hope for actual improvement.

The Babylonians would resurge in a vengeance even worse than before. God was saying they would not face their actual problem but kept trying to come up with anything else except owning up to their sins and guilt.

“Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: “‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “‘Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Disaster! Unheard-of disaster! See, it comes! The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. See, it comes! Doom has come upon you, upon you who dwell in the land. The time has come! The day is near! There is panic, not joy, on the mountains. I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “‘Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you. “‘See, the day! See, it comes! Doom has burst forth, the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed! Violence has arisen, a rod to punish the wicked. None of the people will be left, none of that crowd— none of their wealth, nothing of value. The time has come! The day has arrived! Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller grieve, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. The seller will not recover the property that was sold— as long as both buyer and seller live. For the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed. Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life. “‘They have blown the trumpet, they have made all things ready, but no one will go into battle, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. Outside is the sword; inside are plague and famine. Those in the country will die by the sword; those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague. The fugitives who escape will flee to the mountains. Like doves of the valleys, they will all moan, each for their own sins.
Ezekiel 7:2-16 –

In Ezekiel 7 we see a sword from foreign threats loomed outside while the plague ravished them inside their cities. The Lord says “Then you will know I am the Lord”

When all was said and done, I think the Lord is implying people of this wicked generation would no longer be in denial that it was The Lord repaying them for “their detestable practices”

The truth is though the Lord also in His time promises to repay the “world for all it’s evil”

These days will get so dark and dreadful even people who once denied the Lord will tremble in dread and gnash their teeth in rage. There will no longer be any doubt in their minds but only dread in their hearts.

Yet while we still have time, The Lord invites people to respond in repentance and turn to Jesus Christ by faith, before it is too late.

Respect Life-

“Our World is overpopulated” Some venture to say yet with the same breath they speak those words, there they are also, sucking in air to preserve their own existence, are they not?

Many of them did their part too, if they had kids, started a family, they played their part, did they not? So why should they think their existence is a gift to anyone while they deem the life of some as just an inconvenience.

“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. Habakkuk 2:9-11 –

God condemned people in Habbakuk’s day for trying to keep their own well being secured while showing no concern for the lives of other people. The Lord warned, “since you plotted harm and ruin to others I will reward you with that too. I will give you people what you have dished out to those you had no problem doing that to”

Unusual Islanders

These tribal islanders seemed unusually kind, they were a far cry from the other unbelievers Paul had encountered on his travels and attempts to share the gospel message. In many places the hostile unbelieving Jews tried to stir up dissension and get Paul killed. Many in the Gentiles cities also fiercely besieged Paul in his efforts also. Yet we come to a different group of unbelievers that were actually quite hospitable and friendly.

Throughout the book of Acts we see there was a variety of different responses from different people when the message was shared. Some believed and welcomed it, others gnashes their teeth in anger at it. It’s safe to say I believe it’s not fair to assume all non Christians are the same or react the same way. Jesus warned many would oppose them for their message and persecution would arrise

But it be unfair to judge everyone the same just cause they do not know Christ. Regardless of the response from each group Paul encountered he just faithfully shared the message when the opportunity arose

Later on in this story we see Paul has an opportunity to pray for a sick father of the island chief.

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Acts 28:7-10 –

As a result that opened the door for Paul to likely share the faith in his Lord with the islanders. Sometimes people who do not know Jesus see a Christian pray for something in their life and the Lord answers, and the person at times will end up believing.

Paul and these islanders actual to a degree become symbiotic and mutually beneficial toward one another, and the islanders are so grateful they help the stranded Apostle, the Roman soldiers and prisoners that wrecked on the island rebuild so they could sail again.

God used Paul to share His message with the islanders, who in turn were used by God to repair the ship. Yet there is a third group that witnesses the amazing work of the Lord. These prisoners and Roman guards transporting them sees the Lord at work (Not just the islanders) as a result many also among the crew saw God’s great hand at work.

Living for the Lord can be exciting, you never know who is watching and seeing our Lord at work as we just faithfully devote ourselves to his work.

Bounce It Off

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Proverbs 26:2 –

I remember these when I was a kid. Little arrows with the suction cups that would stick to some surfaces you shot them at. Yet there were surfaces that you could fire at all you wanted and the arrow hit them but bounced off or stuck for maybe a second then quickly fell off.

The Proverb is saying an undeserved curse or evil accusation wont stick if the surface of your life is clean and your not guilty of what you are accused of. People often fire arrows all the time but they can only stick if the accusation is true.

If your accused of a crime generally no evidence that proves you did anything wrong should result in dropped charges. If an investigation turns up no evidence of criminal accusation (that should end it)

Unfortunately there are times where justice is not done and the legal process fails. However, a clear conscience is so wonderful even in spite of unfair accusing tongues.

Joseph was unfairly accused and suffered for it, yet we see God’s blessing came to rest on him though the unfair accusation only stuck for a little while. The truth finally prevailed and he came out on top.

In times where we are unfairly accused or people take shots at us, this truth is deffinately a powerful reminder. Eventually truth will come out. Sometimes that happens in the day of judgement but even in this life people often eventually see. A person may believe what they hear from someone but over time that person who said those things becomes less and less believable through their own actions

I remember people who told me this and that- but the more I got to know the people saying those things I began to doubt nearly anything they said.

We should indeed not believe all we hear either, everyone has their story, we do not always know if they are telling the truth or actually evaluating the situation as it truly is. Sometimes people assume their perception of an incident is reality, when in the end they may be the one who is mixed up

We Cannot Tie Our Worth And Value To Externals

Married Or Single? Is Married Life Really Better?

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better. 1 Corinthians 7:35-38 –

I venture to say there are ups and downs to either one. Some look at marriage in an unrealistic light. Though it can be a wonderful blessing it does not mean it’s always that picture perfect thing some people assume. In verses 28 Paul is saying there is no sin in a man marrying a woman or a woman marrying a man but it will be difficult in many ways. Married life is not really easy. It is not all fun and games but can be hard work often.

Some people when they get to a certain age find themselves frustrated or depressed they are not yet married. Some take it personally and think “Maybe there is something wrong with me.” Yet that thought is not necessarily warranted. God has a unique life call for each of us, married or not. Marriage does not add to our worth or value- some sadly attach their worth and significance to “being in a relationship” yet that mindset can set so many up for great challenges.

People who go into marriage hoping that finding the right person will fix insecurities about themselves or think married life = worth and value, they often times will be sadly let down because that other person cannot truly fix unresolved issues they carried into that relationship.

We have seen this play out far too often. Truth is the Lord is who makes us whole and complete and if we place too much confidence in another human being like that we often find we are greatly disappointed.

It’s not just marriage people do that with. So many tie their worth and value to how much money they make. Some sadly I have seen first hand feel “worthless” because they are poor. They assume if they were wealthy or had more money than they would actually be somebody.

When Jesus said “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions”

So many men try to prove their worth by the car they drive. Met a man who said he bought a fancy car with all the money he saved up but regretted not having money left to have a place to stay. I said “why you do that” and he admitted it was not the best choice but felt like “I had to keep up with the Joneses”

There are women who think they would be more valuable if they had children. We see that play out in Genesis where Leah tied her worth in the ability to have more children (Genesis 29:32)

A man may find that peculiar or strange but men struggle with tying self worth to wrong things too. Often a man feels less than If he cannot accomplish more and he feels incompetent at some task he wishes he could do. I have met unemployed men who felt like “losers” because they had no job. I met even Christian men who measured their worth too much in what they accomplished in “ministry”

Whatever people tie their worth too, it’s not good unless our worth is rooted in how the Lord sees us and what His estimation says. Too many people attach their self worth to worldly things and “The world and it’s desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God will live forever.” (1 John 2:17)

Pharaoh Necho “God told me to!”

After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
2 Chronicles 35:20-22 –

Strange indeed is this response from a pagan king like Pharoah Necho. Suddenly his tune changed and he starts acting like God told him something. Pharaoh never said “my gods told me” but “God told me”

It would have been rather unusual for an Egyptian king to say such a thing, considering Pharaoh’s and Egyptians were very polytheistic. Yet strangely enough Pharaoh speaks about God in suddenly a monotheistic sense.

There are a number of theories what may be going on here,

Maybe Pharaoh wanted to avoid a confrontation and loss of time so he used God as the excuse knowing it may get the King of Judah to back off and leave him be. Since the Judean kings believed in only one God, Pharaoh may have thought “God told me” card would get Josiah off his case.

Yet the slight problem with that theory is after this strange altercation and brief dialogue it says : “He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.”

Another theory is God may have allowed an evil spirit to communicate with and inspire Necho to march out to aid the Assyrians.

We see God did on one occassion allow Ahab to be enticed by an “evil spirit” into a battle that cost him his life.

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”
1 Kings 22:19-23

It says Pharaoh Necho at the “command of God” was marching out. Yet we must understand this language may be merely saying God’s sovereign plan involved Pharaoh marching out and his army being defeated in the process. God likely did not directly inspire Pharaoh to pursue just merely self centered human ends but by providence possibly allowed an evil spirit to deceive Necho into thinking he had a word from God.

Yet inspite of this odd story, Necho seems to say at least one thing that was reasonable. The passage seems to suggest God indeed had no desire for Josiah to quarrel with the Egyptian king.

It could be this foolish pagan king on this occassion had an ounce of sanity and wisdom come from his mouth. Meaning even though most of the time this godless king behaved foolishly and may not have often spoke good or wise words, in this case, on this ocassion, Pharaoh gave some indeed wise advice.

Pharaoh says actually something very sensible. He said in essence “I am not here to fight with you, please don’t engage me in battle because I have bigger fish to fry at this time.”

Under the present circumstances that was reasonable to say and his suggestion was not too far fetched to be heeded.

Yet Josiah pays no attention and suffers for it.

Indeed we do not know for certain what transpired in the moment there and prior when Pharaoh was alone in Egypt and gets an alleged message from “God”

Some may say, well I thought God could not tempt anyone into sin- indeed that is true, yet we are not told that Pharaoh marching into battle to help the Assyrians was sin in itself so indeed if God inspired him to do so, obviously God was not tempting sin. It could have been Pharaoh got the idea on his own and just claimed God was approving something he already decided to do.

We are later told for certain it was indeed against God’s will that Josiah try to challenge him in a fight.

Another possibility is Pharaoh got his original inspiration from an evil spirit he thought was God. In the case of Ahab we see the Lord allowed a deceive spirit to entice him to go into battle to reclaim Ramoth Gilead but that became his downfall. ( We are told in New Testament even Satan himself can masquerade as an angel of light.)

Perhaps an evil spirit tempted Pharaoh to go out and God allowed it to orchestrate Pharaohs humiliating defeat

In Jeremiah we see God seems to mock Pharaoh and refer to him as just a loud noise who missed his opportunity

Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down. They will stumble repeatedly; they will fall over each other. They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back to our own people and our native lands, away from the sword of the oppressor.’ There they will exclaim, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.’
Jeremiah 46:15-17 –

Obviously whatever happened it does not appear God and Pharaoh were exactly on friendly terms like Pharaoh may have assumed

Timeless take aways: I suppose we could say even people who have no knowledge of God, even on occassion there is sometimes God can use them to give some wise advice. I remember getting advice from someone once who most of the time I did not take seriously but later realized that one time they actually were spot on.

Of course the Word of God is the ultimate measure of truth so any advice that contradicts that should be not heeded. Yet even if you for example have a grandparent who is not necessarily Christian/ they can at times give even good life advice. Though any wisdom even aged people aquire over time is not something that originated with them but something they discovered.

Pharaoh here says basically, “Don’t pick a fight with me when I am not even opposing you”

Yet Proverbs long before that said something very similar. Pharaoh was not speaking some new truth but something true he discovered he had no idea the Scripture already said so long before.

So often people may say wise things at times and if you tell them, “by the way the Bible said that too” Some act surprised and say “wow really”

But what happens often is if it is truth or wisdom people can discover it and not realize it origins at all or even know God’s Word already said it was truth.

I suppose we could also add it’s not wise to start a conflict if it’s not necessary. God wanted Josiah to stay out of it. Had Pharaoh been deceived and marching to a humiliating defeat (it was not anything Josiah needed to concern himself with) sometimes when we get into some tangled mess with people who are not believers we can get caught in the cross hairs of their conflicts.

These three armies that fought it out were all unbelieving pagan nations as it was so it would have been best Josiah stayed out of it

Job said he tried to stay aloof (out of the way) of the plans of the wicked

Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’ But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
Job 21:14-16 –

Pharaoh Necho was kind of like this, he had no desire for God or his ways and praised himself for his power and success. Only when God became a stamp to do what Pharaoh wanted was Pharaoh interested in mentioning God.

Don’t Put Your Hope In Corrupt Humans To Fix A Corrupt Nation

Israel in times of distress and hardship were often guilty of this foolishness, they turned to foreign allies and human leadership to fix the mess they were in

Yet the Lord says: “Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water. Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols. I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah. “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face — in their misery they will earnestly seek me. ”
Hosea 5:10-15 –

Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help-

Alot of the problems they had from human enemies was God withdrew his protection and favor because they sinned greatly against Him

Yet instead of repenting as a nation they sent word for help from strong military powers such as Egypt and Assyria

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes, everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace. ”
Isaiah 30:1-5 –

Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord. “‘You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.
Ezekiel 29:6-7 –

Egypt was unpredictable and often treacherous, becoming like a reed that split piercing through the hand of they who leaned on it

The Lord was trying to tell this people not to rely on human beings to help them fix the problems they faced because they would not help

This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
Jeremiah 17:5-7 –

It is part of human sinful nature to often turn to so many wrong things to help us deal with problems in life/ so many put so much trust in other people and then find themselves sorely disapointed. People turn to drugs, alcohol and all kinds of things that only pierce the hand of they that lean on them.

God was saying “You people only have one solution that can bring any help or hope or healing- until you turn to me, your festering sores will still seep into the framework of your society and your own sin will destroy you anf the nation you love”

“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:22 –

The Lord had only one prescription that would bring anything good to the nation that kept spiralling downward faster like a plane about to crash into the ground

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 –

God’s timeless truths are the same today, our hope is not in humans and good can come to nations and individuals if we too repent of our sins and return to the Lord.

Can we expect this to happen large scale, its possible yet may not be likely, yet as Petet preached to a crowd early in Acts he said

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:38-41 –

Peter rightly saw that generation was perverse and corrupt and likely not going to change- but he spoke to as many as would hear and receive the message “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”

Basically, get out from all the perverseness, corruption and chaos of this time and join the Kingdom of Christ-

Thats all we as Christ followers can do, we cannot change the culture much but can preach the message so all who want to separate from this broken world doomed for destruction don’t have to be swept away when God wipes it out in the end