WEDNESDAY 11 April, 2018
Putting Words in People’s Mouths
“…Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.”
So Joab put the words in her mouth. - 2 Samuel 14:3
Joab was trying to resolve the issues between David and Absalom but in reality, as we shall see later, he will make matters worse. It might have been better to leave Absalom with his grandfather in Geshur and let God continue to work on his heart. Instead, he took matters into his own hands and put his words into the mouth of this wise woman from Tekoa. He told her exactly what to say to sway the king.
Remember the familiar story of Jacob and Esau? Their mother Rebekah manipulated Jacob to pretend to be his brother Esau. She had devised a plan to convince her husband Isaac that Jacob was Esau; so that Jacob could be blessed with his brother’s birth right (Genesis 27:1-29). When Esau found out he was furious and vowed to kill his brother. Jacob had to leave and fled to his uncle Laban (Genesis 27:41-45).
Rebekah thought Jacob would be there only for a few days but he was gone for years and Rebekah would never see her son again. Later, God reconciled the brothers, so Jacob returned home to see his father before he died (Genesis 33:1-4; Genesis 35:27-29).
Seriously, we need to learn from these stories, when we meddle in the affairs of men without seeking first the Lord’s direction; it usually will end up badly. May God help us not to manipulate other people; instead we need to pray for them and their circumstances. We might mean well but it is not good to get in the way of what God is doing in their lives.
Do you try to manipulate people? Ask God to help you step away from meddling in situations and to surrender the outcome into His hands.
If you don't surrender to Christ you surrender to chaos.
~E. Stanley Jones~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
