God's incredible power

And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 
But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 
And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” 
And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 
But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 
And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. 
And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’ ” 
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 
And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” (1 Kings 22:13–23)

This part of history reveals the power of God to control what to say and do. The prophets told a lie so the king would do what God wanted him to do. By his action, he would go where God wanted. Even though he had Jehoshaphat disguise himself to look like him, this king did not escape and died in the battle.

This reveals the power of God. Since He never changes, I feel confident in His will being done even in the many messy conflicts in today’s world. He can put words and attitudes in people’s hearts so that things happen that He wants to happen.

While many think that the God of the OT is more violent and not the same as the God of love as revealed in Jesus Christ, His word says:

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (Hebrews 1:10–12)

This God can still speak and put His will into the hearts of kings and prophets, even anyone. I could fill pages with names and stories that I have seen occur only because God did something remarkable. In our church, we often marvel at events and changes with, “Only God” for otherwise such things would never happen.

Jesus, I am glad You are “the same yesterday and today and forever.” You do not always let us see what You are doing, but “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Because of grace, You grant faith to trust You with good things, and even with things we don’t understand. You are an amazing God, worthy of all praise.