Admire, but Not Too Close! Facing Unimaginable Odds. Part 18

Jehosaphat, King of Israel’s opinion of current events wasn’t too appealing: "It was the LORD who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.” (2Kgs 3:13b NIV2) According to the king, Israel was doomed.  There was no hope in sight!

However, human opinion alone can be radically wrong!

Elisha, prophet of the Most High had quite a different interpretation of the upcoming events:  “This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.” (2Kgs 3:16-17 NIV2)

This was a sign of what was to come. After all, they had run out of water. "This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.” (2Kgs 3:18 NIV2)

So who was right?  The King?  Or Elisha? 

The king did have a lot of experience with warfare, while Elisha had none whatsoever...But Elisha was depending totally on what God told him...

"The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.” (2Kgs 3:20 NIV2)

The promised deliverance had begun.  But why the sign of water? There is always a reason with God.

"When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red—like blood. ‘That’s blood!’ they said. ‘Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!’” (2Kgs 3:22-23 NIV2)

Interesting to notice that humans logic often tends to veer to the absurd.  Now greed is mixed with human opinion, and it all ends up in a huge disaster: the downfall of Moab itself!

"But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites.” (2Kgs 3:24 NIV2)

The rest is history!

I wonder: Do we always keep our promises? Are all of our opinions always right on track with reality? We may try, and at times we may be quite successful.  But honestly more often than not, we fail in both aspects!

Nonetheless, we try to continue on our merry way, with misconceptions and failed promises. After all, no politician has ever been able to fulfill all of his promises, despite the fact that he has all power in hand!  The same is true with any conclusion he makes.  So often he is way off the track as well!

Are we any better? It’s best not to look too closely! This is why wise Solomon concluded: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:5-6 NIV2)

Last year we visited the great Cairn of Barnenez, in France.  It is quite an imposing mausoleum erected a very long time ago (4500-3500 BC).  It was huge, seventy-five meters long, with eleven corridor tombs. It stands out in the hilly landscape, and each stone weighs several tons.  What is amazing is that each of these stones had to be carried over long distances to their current positions!  Quite a feature don’t you think?

We were looking forward to touring this cairn inside and out.  The internet site had many pictures of the interior, and I couldn’t wait to see the many symbols engraved on the interior walls.

With our tickets in hand, we quickly made our way to the cairn.  When the main entrance wasn’t immediately visible, we began walking around it.  And we kept on walking and walking, until -- we were once again at the visitor’s centre!  Where was the main entrance?  Did we miss it somewhere? 

Puzzled, we walked around the cairn a second time, and then a third, but all of the entrances to the cairn had been sealed off, and two of the entrances boasted “No trespassing” signs. 

It’s then that we discovered we were not the only ones looking for the entrance!  We joined the ranks of the other disillusioned tourists and left the premises. Nowhere had there been any mention that the cairn was not open to the public!  And to make things worse, we had made a big detour to come here!

Humans easily assume things.  But way too often we are completely wrong! 

Who will we trust?

There is only One in whom we can completely put our confidence 100% of the time: The One we call our Father in heaven!

Rob Chaffart