Many have a deep desire to know what will happen in their future. Some seek out mediums and fortune tellers for information and guidance about what lies ahead and what to do about it.
If we belong to God, He does not take a positive view towards us doing this. He clearly tells us throughout His word that we are not to inquire of any other gods for anything. He is a jealous God, jealous with a love for us, and has forbidden us from pursuing other deities or spirits for any reason.
After the death of King Ahab on the battlefield, the throne of the Northern Kingdom of Israel went to his and Jezebel’s son, Ahaziah. Like his parents, King Ahaziah had little regard for the Lord, the One who had freed His people from slavery and placed them in Israel, a land flowing with milk and honey. Ahaziah instead chose to worship his own god, Baal-Zerub, one of the neighboring Philistine deities.
The mighty demonstration of heavenly power in the dramatic face-off between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel was apparently lost on King Ahab’s family. They shrugged it off and continued following their idolatrous path.
Then one day, King Ahaziah’s life was interrupted by a serious accident – he fell though a lattice on a higher story and dropped a significant distance onto the floor below, seriously injuring himself. He was hurt to the point that he feared he was about to die. Instead of turning toward God in his crisis, he sent messengers to Ekron to ask of their god, Baal-Zerub, if he was going to survive this fall. God did not appreciate being ignored by a leader of His people.
3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria… 2 Kings 1:3 (NKJV)
Following God’s directive, the prophet Elijah confronted Ahaziah’s messengers before they got very far and sent them back to the king with a new message from the Lord.
6 So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” ’ ”
7 Then he said to them, “What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?”
8 So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.”
And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” 2 Kings 1:6-8 (NKJV)
King Ahaziah knew enough about that prophet Elijah to know that it was him bringing the message from God. But he did not accept God at His word, and instead of repenting, foolishly sent men to try to take Elijah captive. The Lord was not going to let that evil plan succeed. Since Ahaziah did not get the message of Mount Carmel and the fire from heaven the first time, God re-ran the “experiment” a couple more times for him on his army. Ahaziah still did not repent, though, and God’s judgment of death finally came upon him because of his stubborn idolatry.
Scripture tells us that God holds our future in His hands. He knows the number of our days, days that have been ordained for us from the beginning. He knew us before we were born, even as we were being formed in the womb. He is the One with all the true information about us and our lives.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16 (NKJV)
God clearly wants us to inquire of Him about any of our needs or concerns for our future, not some other spiritual entity. We know that there are other created spirits in the universe, spirits that have turned against Him and His Messiah, Jesus Christ. He does not want us to pursue these – the Bible repeatedly tells us that it is outside of His will for us to do so. He will provide for all of our needs and He will never leave us, nor forsake us.
Reflection
Am I going outside of God’s will in my quest to prosper or to learn about my future?
Lord, we come to You now with our heart fully focused on You, totally dependent upon your goodness and grace towards us. Grant us all that we need and all that we need to know about our future, without resorting to outside channels or spirits that may be working counter to You. We seek only your Holy Spirit. Guide us in Your true way. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 