What a great comfort we receive in the knowledge that we belong, in both body and soul, to a sovereign God, who is by his very nature a merciful, gracious, loving God. His promises are for the good of His people. We may suffer in this life, and often we do. God does not promise that life will be easy. What God does promise that that He is faithful to His decrees.

Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor… and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening.  (1 Kings 22:34-35)

The archery reference in this passage may be obscure at first glance, and yet the background is very familiar to us. At this point we see Ahab, the king of Israel in cooperation with Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, both at war against the nation of Syria. Prior to this battle, the prophet of the Lord had warned King Ahab that if he went into battle, then he would be killed.

Now we remember Ahab as the weak and wicked husband of Queen Jezebel, the same royal family which vigorously sought to destroy the Prophet Elijah. God had promised to punish Ahab for his wickedness. Scripture tells us the pride precedes destruction (Pr. 16:18); in the case of Ahab, his pride told him that God had no authority over him, and on that same day he was killed.

Ahab had a plan; he would go into battle as a common soldier, and asked the king of Judah to be dressed in full royal apparel. The scheme was that Syria would mistake Jehoshaphat for Ahab, and the result would be that Ahab would live, while Jehoshaphat would be killed.

A brilliant plan! But a plan that makes God to be small and man to be great.

A certain man drew a bow at random. What an interesting line!

Read More