During the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness
Luke 2:7
In the book of 1 Kings 22, there’s this interesting story of two kings going to battle in partnership. Ahab, an evil and godless King, sought the hand of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, in the battle to take Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. Wisely, Jehoshaphat insisted that they seek God’s will in the matter, so Ahab brought 400 false prophets together, who all assured him that God would give them victory (1 Kings 22:6). Jehoshaphat recognized their falsehood and asked whether a true prophet of God could be summoned. Ahab acknowledged that Micaiah was a true prophet, but he hated him, because “he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad” (1 Kings 22:8).
Micaiah was brought before the kings and delivered God’s final warning to Ahab. He said that if they went to war, they would be defeated and left without a king. After this word of Micaiah, one of the false prophets got angry and here’s what he did “Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?” (1 Kings 22:24).
Why was Zedekiah so angry? He couldn’t understand why God’s word didn’t come to him but instead went straight to Micaiah. In the days of Jesus Christ as well, there were two high priests, men who should have been the custodians of God’s word but the word of God left them and came rather to John, a man in the wilderness.
The scripture is full of many examples of God’s word leaving the people who should have been the custodians of it to come to unpopular men. The reason for this is simple, God’s word respects no man. God’s word only comes to men with the right heart posture. When Eli began to treat God’s word with contempt, God left him and came to a small boy, Samuel, to be his oracle. It is always about posture, no one has a monopoly on God and His gifts.
The last time God spoke to you through your morning devotion, Sunday school, or quiet impressions upon your heart, did you take it seriously? You knew it was God but you did nothing because it was convenient. How can God trust you with his word again? If you want God’s word to still come to you again, you need to repent today and make a firm resolution to obey whenever he speaks
Heavenly Father, I humbly acknowledge that your Word respects no man’s position. Help me cultivate a heart that is receptive, humble, and obedient to your Word. May I be positioned to receive divine revelations, regardless of societal expectations. Let my heart be a fertile ground where your word finds a dwelling. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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