WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR

Ahab had four hundred prophets who all prophesied the things that Ahab wanted to hear. They all told Ahab to go into battle and be victorious. But Jehosophat was not convinced by the numbers and unity of Ahab's prophets, so he asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" (1Kin 22:7) Eventually a lone prophet of the LORD, Micaiah, was called. His message was very different and foretold the death of Ahab and the scattering of Israel. It was the message Ahab was afraid to hear, yet it was the message of the LORD. Having heard it, Ahab instead decided to follow the predictions of the four hundred other prophets while taking precautions to try and foil the fulfilment of Micaiah's prophecy. It didn't work, and Ahab died in the battle.

We often need advice. We probably don't have multitudes of prophets to ask - or even one prophet. But even in asking advice from friends, family or work colleagues, we need to be careful. As Ahab discovered, the advice we want to hear is not always right nor is it always the majority who are right. But advice from the LORD will always be right. Let's make sure we do what is right and listen to the advice of the LORD above all else. Let's not base our decisions on the philosophy, opinions or wisdom of mere man.

Robert Prins [Auckland - Pakuranga - (NZ)]