There is this great little story in 2 Chronicles 18 that I love. Israel and Judah have split, and Jehoshaphat is king in Judah and Ahab king in Israel. They get together and (supposedly) ask the Lord whether they should go up in battle against Syria. What happens is both very funny and very sad.
Israel had already abandoned worshipping Yahweh and worshipped a calf God they called Yahweh but wasn't. Ahab called prophets of this false religion together to "hear the Lord." They all said "Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king."
Something didn't sit well with Jehoshaphat and he asked "Is there not here another prophet of the Lord whom we may inquire? And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil."
Hmmm. Perhaps, Ahab, because you need to hear that you are evil and need to repent like the kings of Judah had and stop worshipping a demon-god and instead really listen to and serve the one true God Yahweh.
He doesn't see it that way, of course, and when Miciaiah comes in and prophecies it comes about exactly as he says.
The word for us, I think is not to be afraid of bad news from the Lord. If you are reading the Word or listening to a Bible study and something really hits you that feels uncomfortable. Ask God to reveal what He is up to. What is He trying to say to you? Perhaps there are areas of repentance needed in your life.
Also, its usually a mistake when, after hearing from the Lord, you surround yourself with people or messages that say what you want to hear - what makes you feel comfortable. Spending time with God doesn't always make us comfortable but it always makes us more like Him.
Pastor Tom
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