the Riddler

A couple of scriptures have me rethinking some aspects of God’s personality lately. This has been a great reminder to constantly check my view of God with His word. Near the end of King Ahab’s rule, he and the King of Judah decide to reclaim a certain city from Syria. The king of Judah wisely asked King Ahab if anyone inquired of the Lord whether they’d be successful or whether they should even initiate such a campaign. Well, the interchange that happens next is VERY interesting – check out 1 Kings 22:5-29

At first I considered this unpopular, little known prophet had it wrong. Surely Ahab was a bad king, but God resorting to deceptive spirits to finish off a bad guy? It sounded quite different than the God I know. The Lord brought me to some other scriptures over the next couple of weeks to show me this wasn’t an anomaly. 2 Thes 2:9-12

Here God is sending a deluding influence to finish off those who have delighted in evil. All the sudden I’m wondering if the prophecies and life are just a cruel joke from a cosmic super villain playing both parts of good and evil. No! I know there is an Enemy, the real Father of lies who is tempting me to distrust the Holy One, the great I am.

So why are Satan’s actions evil but the mystery of prophecies, the hardening of hearts, the delusions and deceptions the Lord sends part of his Holy and Loving character?

The Lord answered by reminding me of three stories and showing me a fourth. Jonah, Jacob’s ladder, a shrewd dude and Ahab’s fast. Ok, so I’m going to share what God’s given me, but why not go on your own scavenger hunt and see what you come up with? I’ll post my results next week!

Created about 4 years ago