It’s a short story in Second Kings 3:21-27 about the rebellion of Moab. For some time they had been paying tribute to Israel. And, after the death of Ahab, the king of Israel, this was a chance for Moab to rebel. Things in Israel had been turned on their ear again with the death of King Ahab which was followed by the death of his son, Ahaziah, the new ruler of Israel. Jehoram, the son of Ahab is the next king of Israel. And he’s the one who decides he’s going to flex his military might and put down the Moabites.
What’s the first thing he does? He gets in touch with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and tells him that the king of Moab has rebelled against him (II Kings 3:7) and wants to know if Jehoshaphat will go into battle with him. A godly man, Jehoshaphat, has made peace with Israel (I Kings 22:44) and its’ wicked and evil rulers. It’s safe to say that he had a blind spot when it came to the character of these despicable rulers.
Nevertheless, King Ahaziah, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom set off to wage a battle against Moab. Seven days it takes to cross the wilderness of Edom to the battlefield. No water for those seven days. Jehoshaphat inquires after a prophet for guidance. Elisha tells these three to dig ditches, lots of them in the valley. They do so, the ditches fill up with water, and the problem is solved.
In the meantime Moab hears that the kings have come to fight. They gather their forces and assemble for battle. When the sun rose, the Moabites saw the sun reflecting off the valley floor. Reflections from the valley floor that appear to be red. It must be blood, The kings must have gotten angry with each other and fought among themselves. Moab mistakenly believes they’re dead already and they rush down to take all that has been left behind.
Moab is crushed, their lands, cities, trees and wells. “The people of Moab saw the water but they saw it as blood. They imagined the kings had turned on each other. How easily they were drawn into their own delusion.” spoke Pastor Josh. “Water was actually the victory against Moab. They imagined it the victory for them.”
“When sin is working on one side, God is working on the other. James 1:14 says that every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. The one who believes the lie will be damned. The ones who lose are the ones who don’t take the blood of Christ. Those who are destroyed are the ones who have been deceived. Galatians 6:7 and 8 go like this: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” quoted Pastor Josh. His final words to give thought to: “None are more deceived than those who lie to themselves.”
What’s the first thing he does? He gets in touch with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and tells him that the king of Moab has rebelled against him (II Kings 3:7) and wants to know if Jehoshaphat will go into battle with him. A godly man, Jehoshaphat, has made peace with Israel (I Kings 22:44) and its’ wicked and evil rulers. It’s safe to say that he had a blind spot when it came to the character of these despicable rulers.
Nevertheless, King Ahaziah, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom set off to wage a battle against Moab. Seven days it takes to cross the wilderness of Edom to the battlefield. No water for those seven days. Jehoshaphat inquires after a prophet for guidance. Elisha tells these three to dig ditches, lots of them in the valley. They do so, the ditches fill up with water, and the problem is solved.
In the meantime Moab hears that the kings have come to fight. They gather their forces and assemble for battle. When the sun rose, the Moabites saw the sun reflecting off the valley floor. Reflections from the valley floor that appear to be red. It must be blood, The kings must have gotten angry with each other and fought among themselves. Moab mistakenly believes they’re dead already and they rush down to take all that has been left behind.
Moab is crushed, their lands, cities, trees and wells. “The people of Moab saw the water but they saw it as blood. They imagined the kings had turned on each other. How easily they were drawn into their own delusion.” spoke Pastor Josh. “Water was actually the victory against Moab. They imagined it the victory for them.”
“When sin is working on one side, God is working on the other. James 1:14 says that every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. The one who believes the lie will be damned. The ones who lose are the ones who don’t take the blood of Christ. Those who are destroyed are the ones who have been deceived. Galatians 6:7 and 8 go like this: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” quoted Pastor Josh. His final words to give thought to: “None are more deceived than those who lie to themselves.”
