“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.” His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.”
II Chronicles 35:20-24 NKJV
Meddling with God
Reading of Josiah’s failure at the end of his life, reminded me that there are times when we are obedient to the Lord, glorifying Him, and we elevate ourselves, feeling that we can inject ourselves into whatever God is doing, regardless of whether He has called us or not.
There is much that will happen in the coming days, weeks, months and perhaps, years. Many of the things that will be great spectacle in the eyes of man will done by our most holy and powerful God. In light of all that may happen, there will be great temptation for the followers of Jesus to meddle, to seek to insert themselves into what God is doing, having not received and invitation.
We are fresh from an apparent victory over the grievous specter of abortion, and I am sure there are many who waiting for that next opportunity. We feel invincible.
In this time of global uncertainty, there are many cataclysms coming at the world at one time, as a global famine is taking shape, economies are dissolving into chaos, and even here in the US we will see hunger and strife of which we have never seen before.
Many more things will happen, both foreign and domestic, and anything we think we can add to the work of God will prove to us that we are powerless, for these are things that the Lord Himself is bringing according to His perfect will.
Those of us who have been faithful and devoted to the calling, are more than likely to suffer in the coming days, as we will be stricken with a multitude to hits from the surrounding culture. The world we live will come to hate us all the more, eventually demanding our blood. Like Josiah, we will be tempted to go into battle, to take up the cause in defense of ourselves.
It is in that moment that we must remind ourselves that the battle belongs to the Lord.
“Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.””
I Samuel 17:47 NKJV
There will come days when the darkness is all around us, and we may find ourselves feeling lost and forsaken. But know this, my brothers and sisters, our God is faithful! He knows the end from the beginning, and He has given us His promises in writing. Even as we contemplate all that will transpire, we know that Jesus has given the victory.
Each of us who has come to the Lord by faith, has been given the victory, as Jesus has defeated sin and death in our lives. Because we have that victory, we can be assured of the greater one, when the prince and power of the air will be defeated and Jesus will reign.
Let us be mindful of the power of the Lord, and let us let God do what He will do. Our efforts to interfere will bring nothing by needless suffering, as it brought death to Josiah. Let us not worry, for we know that the Lord is sovereign and in control.
Let us not fall back on fleshly reactions, but seek the Lord in His word. In it He has given us the defenses we need, the armor to resist the attacks and the assurance found in our salvation.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV
The Lord has not called us to do battle, but to bring the Good News.
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Musings from an idle mind 
Amen! May we walk by faith in order to please God.
“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1
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